Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar, who had a running dust-up with AIADMK chief Sasikala, has joined hands with Tamil Nadu’s caretaker chief minister O Pannerselvam.
Deepa Jayakumar, who was expected to announce her political plans on February 24, the birthday of Jayalalithaa, has now indicated that she will work with Pannerselvam who is trying to outrun Sasikala in wresting the party’s control.
Ending speculation on whether she would join hands with Panneerselvam, Jayakumar has said she would work with him as if they are "two hands of the AIADMK".
Panneerselvam and Jayakumar, flanked by MLAs and MPs in his camp, paid a visit to late Jayalalithaa's burial site at Marina and offered homage.
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"We will work together jointly as two hands of AIADMK in future for the people of Tamil Nadu. He asked for justice. I too ask the same," Deepa told reporters.
After paying homage Deepa went to the house of Panneerselvam at Greenways Road and was given a traditional welcome by family members of the Chief Minister.
Sasikala has emerged as a common foe for the two, and they have alleged that Sasikala is inducting her relatives who were thrown out Jayalalithaa into the party.
Sasikala on Wednesday morning inducted her nephews TTV Dhinakaran and S Venkatesh into the party. Dhinakaran, thrown out of the party by Jayalalithaa in 2011, was appointed deputy general secretary of the AIADMK.
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TTV Dhinakaran is the brother of Sudharakarn whom Jayalalithaa had adopted, and whose lavish wedding caused uproar in 1996 and led to the party’s rout in elections. Sudhakaran, alon with Sasikala, was convicted by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Stuffing relatives into the party is an attempt by her to remote-control the party from jail for the next four years. She was convicted in a disproportionate assets case by the Supreme Court, on Tuesday.
"I will steer the party even from inside a cage," she told party supporters who had gathered there.
The 62-year-old Sasikala said that upon her return from the prison, the AIADMK government will be formed and that the party workers should strive in this regard.
"Only I can be jailed, not the care or concern I have for this party. Wherever I will be, my thoughts will be here," said an emotional Sasikala.
She said she will be thinking about the party round the clock.
Earlier, newly elected AIADMK legislature party leader Edappadi K Palaniswami had met Rao and staked claim to form government.
"For me, to form government, to set up Amma's memorial, you should remain united," she said.
