The discontent among the AIADMK functionaries over the elevation of Sasikala Natarajan to the post of general secretary is growing with a section of party workers launching a campaign to support Deepa Jayakumar, niece of Jayalalithaa, as the “real political heir” of the former chief minister.
Launching a forum 'Deepa Peravai' in different towns of Tamil Nadu, party workers put up large flex boards of Deepa along with images of Jayalalithaa and former chief minister M.G.Ramachandran.
In Coimbatore, hundreds of party workers staged a demonstration to protest Natarajan's appointment as party chief and to support Deepa as the political heir of Jayalalithaa. Similar protests were seen in other towns including Salem and Tiruchirapalli. In Cuddalore, a section of AIADMK cadres and supporters of Deepa staged a black flag protest on Saturday.
According to a report by the PTI, the workers in Tiruchirapalli have unveiled 'double rose' as the forum symbol in contrast to AIADMK's two leaves symbol.
In Tirupur, flex boards erected in support of Sasikala were found damaged. Several posts of Sasikala were found either defaced or torn in parts of Tamil Nadu.
Deepa, who remained unknown to the outside world till the death of Jayalalithaa, had earlier said that she was entitled to a share in her aunt’s Poes Garden bungalow. "I see myself clearly as a new entrant amidst the existing number of claimants to her political legacy," she had also said in an interview to The Hindu.
Sasikala, a close aide of Jayalalithaa, took charge as the party general secretary after the AIADMK general council unanimously decided to elect her as the chief. The succession battle in the party after the demise of Jayalalithaa on December 5, had turned murkier with expelled party MP Sasikala Pushpa strongly questioning Natarajan's credibility and demanding a probe into her alleged role in the death of the former chief minister.
