Deepa's moves come amidst a bitter fight between AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala camp and the one led by former chief minister O Panneerselvam over inheriting the political legacy of Jayalalithaa.
Deepa Jayakumar, the niece of former chief minister and AIADMK supremo late J Jayalalithaa, on Friday, announced her formal entry into politics with the launch of a new forum 'MGR Amma Deepa Peravai' on the occasion of Jayalalithaa's 69th birth anniversary.
Claiming to be the true political heir of Jayalalithaa, she also announced her plans to contest the bypoll for the RK Nagar Assembly seat, that has fallen vacant after Jayalalithaa's demise. Deepa's moves come amidst a bitter fight between AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala camp and the one led by former chief minister O Panneerselvam over inheriting the political legacy of Jayalalithaa.
"I will continue with the good work carried out by Jayalalithaa and realise her dreams. I am taking a pledge to work for the development of the Tamils and to make the state a number one in the whole of Asia. The goal of our outfit is to bring back Amma's golden rule," she told reporters at her residence in T Nagar, where she announced the name of her outfit and unveiled its flag.
Accompanied by her husband Madhavan, who will be the treasurer of the front, she said that she would retrieve the 'two leaves' symbol of the AIADMK. When asked if it is a political party, she said, "It's a federation at the moment."
On her brother Deepak's sudden revolt against AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran, she said that she suspect a ploy. "Someone is making him speak like that. All of a sudden he is speaking out. There is no clarity. He has no issue with Sasikala as party general secretary but is opposing her nephew who was appointed by her," she said.
When asked whether she will seek support of O Panneerselvam camp, she said that her meeting with him was only a courtesy call. "We did not hold any talks of working jointly. He is going on his own path, I am on my own," she said. On February 14, when the Supreme Court gave its verdict on Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case, she met Panneerselvam at Jayalalithaa's burial site and announced that she and Panneerselvam would function like two hands of the AIADMK.
Panneerselvam, who celebrated Jayalalithaa's birth anniversary in RK Nagar, said the doors are open to Deepa. "She is always welcome," he said. Stating that they are the true AIADMK, he said, "We will take back the party from the hands of the family (Sasikala) who Jayalalithaa had thrown out of Poes Garden."
Both Panneerselvam and Deepa sought a probe into the death of Jayalalithaa. "There are several doubts in the minds of the people. To clear them, a probe should be ordered under the Central supervision," he demanded.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Deepa Jayakumar")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}