On Jayalalithaa's birthday, factions compete to gain support

Niece Deepa Jayakumar floats new party, plans to contest by polls and local govt elections

On the 69th birthday of J Jayalalithaa, the late supremo of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the rival factions that emerged after her death have reiterated their stand against each other, even as they paid tributes to the departed leader. Deepa Jayakumar, niece of Jayalalithaa also launched a new party and announced plans to contest in the by polls and local government elections in the state.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who has been elected by the V K Sasikala faction, spearheaded the planting of 690,000 tree sapplings in the state to commemorate the deceased leader's birthday. He said his government is pursuing the development projects Jayalalithaa started. Later, in Coimbatore, he announced plans to launch a monorail in accordance with her wish.

Meanwhile, O Panneerselvam, who took on the Sasikala faction after submitting his resignation as Chief Minister of the state earlier in February, claimed that AIADMK members are with him even though the MLAs are with the rival camp. After paying tribute to Jayalalithaa in RK Nagar, the constituency from which she won for the last time, he said he had taken the initiative to launch an investigation into the issues pertaining to Jayalalithaa's health problems. He claimed that the probe was abandoned by the new government.

In the evening, Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar, announced the floating of a new party named "MGR, Amma, Deepa Peravai". Deepa, who also has a section of supporters from the AIADMK, is opposing the Sasikala camp. She said that the party will contest in the by-election in RK Nagar, which fell vacant with Jayalalithaa's demise. The party is also expected to contest in the upcoming local government elections in the State.