Deepa's party will strengthen Panneerselvam against Sasikala: Aiyar

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Saturday termed late J. Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar's announcement to form a new party a tactical move to strengthen former Tamil Nadu chief minister O. Panneerselvam's hand against All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader Sasikala.

"Peravai, in Tamil, does not refer to a party. It refers to a grouping, a club, a movement. The Tamil word for a party is Kacchi. So, maybe there is some significance to the fact that she is referring to it as a Peravai and not as a Kachhi and therefore, the aim is to strengthen Panneerselvam's hand against the Sasikala's group," Aiyar told ANI.

Aiyar also opined that the decision has been taken to save the future of the Tamil Nadu government as well as of the AIADMK.

"I am not sure that this is the three-way break of the old AIADMK, but it is a tactical move to strengthen the two-way break that is threatening the future of the Tamil Nadu government and potentially of the AIADMK," he said.

"The chances of succeeding in the present political context are very high because only six people have to leave Palanisamy and the government of Tamil Nadu will fall. And, I think they are determined to ensure that even if their government falls, Sasikala should not have a legitimate political claim to being the heir of Jayalalithaa," he added.

Bringing yet another twist in the already much twisted political state of Tamil Nadu, Deepa, a day before, announced a new party naming - 'MGR Amma Deepa Peravai.'

She also said she would contest elections from the former's constituency, R.K. Nagar, in the next elections.

"People are continuously expressing interest that I should contest from there. I am definitely going to take that call and contest from R.K. Nagar," Deepa told ANI.