After the political tussle in Tamil Nadu quieted down since the swearing-in of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy since the dramatic trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, now another rebellion has erupted. Deepak Jayakumar, Jayalalithaa’s nephew, has staked claim to the late former Chief Minister's Poes Garden residence and other properties, and has opposed the leadership of AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran and Dr S Venkatesh, the nephews of the incarcerated general secretary of the party, VK Sasikala.
In an interview to NewsX, Deepak said, “I will pay the Rs 100 crore fine for my aunt Jayalalithaa. I don’t have money, so I will sell properties. I can’t say which property I am going to sell. But Poes garden belongs to me and Deepa (his sister).”
Emphasising the claim over the properties of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, as her legal heir, Deepak told the news channel: “Only me and Deepa can enjoy the properties of Jayalalithaa. Nobody else can claim credit to it.”
Deepak, who was seen last in public performing the final rites for his deceased aunt Jayalalithaa on December 6, 2016, has spoken up for the first time about his and sister Deepa’s legal claim to the properties, which were occupied by Sasikala before she went to prison, and is now being used by her family.
Deepak’s claim seems to be only about Jayalalithaa’s properties as he said he is not interested carrying on the political legacy of his aunt.
“I am not interested in politics,” he said. Nuancing his opposition to the AIADMK leadership, Deepak told NewsX that he was not against Sasikala’s elevation as general secretary of the party; he said he considered Sasikala equivalent to his mother. He just disagreed with her decision to hand over the party leadership to her nephews TTV Dinakaran and Dr S Venkatesh.
“I can accept my aunt and Sasikala as the general secretary of the AIADMK. But how can TTV Dinakaran and Venkatesh be made the deputy general secretary and given a plum post?”
Stating that Sasikala’s nephews may have usurped the party posts, Deepak told NewsX “They probably forced Sasikala to handover the party (to them). No cadre will accept this...I don’t know what made Sasikala take these decisions.”
Deepak, however, seemed to support his sister Deepa’s entry into politics. “Even Deepa can claim credit to the post in AIADMK. But not these two (Dinakaran and Venkatesh); they are trying family rule,” Deepak said, referring to criticism against Sasikala’s family, whom Panneerselvam and large sections of the Tamil Nadu public have accused of pulling the strings in the party.
Deepa, Jayalalithaa's niece who bears a strong resemblance to the former AIADMK supremo, has been visible and vocal about her opposition to the Sasikala faction, and had even openly supported O Panneerselvam, the AIADMK rebel who failed in gathering enough support to claim the chief minister’s chair after his revolt.
She had declared at a meeting with Panneerselvam at Jayalalithaa memorial, a few days ahead of the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, that she was making her entry into politics.
Deepak too seemed to have only good regard for Panneerselvam, whom his sister is supporting, He said, “I respect OPS. He was a good Chief Minister. I can’t say anything more about him. I support his good administration.
But I don’t have any ambition in politics.”
Deepak even went so far as to sound the death knell for the current government in Tamil Nadu headed by Edappadi Palanisamy, saying the appointment of Dinarakan and Venkatesh would split the party and eventually lead to the opposition DMK coming to power. “I think AIADMK will split because of this and the DMK will form the government,” Deepak told NewsX, even while criticising the opposition party in the same breath for indulging in dynastic politics.
Deepak's rebellion has taken the AIADMK leadership off guard. Reacting immediately, spokesperson and former minister Vaigai Selvan said, “Nobody can claim rights for Amma's properties.”
As the general secretary of the party, Sasikala, would decide about the properties, he said. “Had there been a will (left by Jayalalithaa), the properties may be bequeathed as per the provisions in it. Otherwise, only our party's general secretary is authorised to decide,” he said.
Referring to the criticism on Dinakaran's elevation, Vaigai Selvan said it was necessitated by the current situation where Sasikala could not be available to run party. “This is a testing time for our party. Realising his inevitable necessity, the deputy general secretary's post was given to him. Moreover, being a blood relative, Dinakaran can easily visit Sasikala in Bengaluru prison," he pointed out.