Seeking re-election from Andipatti in Theni district, she could be proud of having provided all basic amenities in the last five years, All India Anna Dravida Munethra Kazhagam functionaries claim.
Jayalalithaa was elected to Andipatti in a by-election with a thumping majority of 33,000 votes in 2002, when she promised to change Andipatti (beggars' land) to 'Arasipatti' (queen's land).
Almost all the villages had been provided with good roads, water supply and drainage facility, besides temples had been consecrated.
The constituency enjoyed good bus facility also, which was only a dream in the past. She had kept her promise to establish an arts and science college and medical college near the constituency.
Jayalalithaa, who wound up her campaign on April 19, had been appealing to the voters to elect her and continue to give Andipatti the status of Chief Minister's constituency, which it enjoyed now.
Also see: Assembly Election 2006 Blog
Throughout her campaign, she focused on endearing the voters, stating that she was their 'loving sister' and remembered them wherever she was, like a 'mother bird' remembering its chicks."
It was in Andipatti that Jayalalithaa made several promises, apart from what she had assured in the AIADMK manifesto, including 10 kg of free rice for all the ration cardholders, computer training facility for school children, job for one person in a family where nobody was "decently" employed and cancellation of fee in schools.
She also concentrated on mentioning what she had done for the constituency and how it had benefitted the people.
Jayalalithaa, who started her campaign after filing nomination on April 15, concentrated in the constituency for the next three days continuously.
It was when she was in the midst of campaigning at Theni that Tamil Actor Sarathkumar, who quit Dravida Munethra Kazhagam recently, resigned his Rajya Sabha memebrship and joined the AIADMK along with his actress wife Radhika.
When asked why Jayalalithaa concentrated so much on Andipatti, a senior AIADMK leader said that Jayalalithaa was, "Sure about the victory. But victory alone is not our goal. We want to give her a huge victory margin."
During the last assembly polls, her papers were rejected from this constituency on the plea that she had filed nominations from more than two constituencies, in violation of electoral rules.
After the Supreme Court acquitted her in the Tansi land case, she won the seat in a by-election in 2002, with a margin of over 33,000 votes. "We expect more margin this time," he said.
