'Want to follow aunt's footstep,' says Jayalalithaa niece Deepa Madhavan

Deepa Madhavan, niece of late CM of Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa, made her intentions clear in taking a plunge in politics saying that she would like to 'follow the footstep' of her aunt in an interview to CNN News 18. Deepa said she would do everything to sustain the legacy Jayalalithaa built. 

Deepa made clear that she is not averse to joining the AIADMK party but she said so far no one has approached or prevented her from doing so. Although Deepa didn't explicitly say whether she would contest RK Nagar by-election in Chennai, she neither ruled out that option. 

Deepa said that Jayalalithaa never announced a successor and it is for the people to decide the person. Meanwhile, AIADMK party announcement that senior functionaries of AIADMK urged Jayalalithaa's close aide Sasikala to lead the party. 

Deepa said she tried to visit Jaya several times when the late CM was admitted to the hospital but was refused access to her by authorities. Deepa claimed they last met in 2007 and her efforts to get in touch through letters and call never reached Jayalalithaa. 

Expressing shock over the burial of Jayalalithaa, Deepa said the last rites were not done according to Jaya's beliefs.