Jayalalithaa Niece Deepa To Launch Her Own Political Party  

Chennai: The demised Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jaikumar on Tuesday announced that she will launch her own political party on February 24.

Speaking to reporters at her residence in Chennai, Deepa claimed that she was the real heir to her paternal aunt Jayalalithaa and would strive to serve the people of Tamil Nadu following in Puratchi Talaivi's footsteps. Stating that majority of the AIADMK cadres are supporting her, Deepa said people will decide in the political arena once she enters the election politics.

Interestingly, Deepa said she had no doubts about the death of her aunt Jayalalithaa. She said she will announce the party name and her political action plan on February 24 which is Jayalalithaa's birthday. “My political agenda would be only in line with the ideology of Jayalalithaa and MGR,” she said.

Earlier in the day, supporters of Deepa in AIADMK and the party's new general secretary Sasikala resorted to verbal dual at the centenary of MGR at Marina beach leading to tensions.