: Tamil Nadu, its people and the cadre of the AIADMK have escaped from the clutches of a family trying to control the State, Deepa Jayakumar, the niece of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, said.
“The verdict reflects the hopes of the cadre and the people of Tamil Nadu. The court has shattered the family’s plan to seize control of the State” she said.
Ms. Deepa wanted the judiciary to come forward and set to rest doubts surrounding Ms. Jayalalithaa’s death. “The court should identify the offenders and deliver justice. At this critical juncture, we should respect Amma’s dream for the AIADMK and ensure a good leader emerges to carry forward her work,” she said.
On the leadership vaccuum in the party following V.K. Sasikala’s arrest, she said, “I have always said that Sasikala could never be accepted because of the assets case.”
Did the verdict mean that her aunt and former CM was also guilty? “No. This particular family has been cheating her for 30 years as they themselves have declared so many times. It is because of their greed and desperation for power that cases were filed against her. She is not guilty, she sacrificed her life for the people,” Ms. Deepa said.
Ms. Sasikala’s move to expel nearly a dozen MLAs only showed that she did not allow any democracy in the party.“Amma never wanted these people coming to power. Sasikala and her family will bring anyone they want to power. She had brought disrepute to Amma’s name, cheated her and now it has all come to a good end. The family is going where it should be,” she said.
On the selection of Edappadi K. Palaniswami as the next CM, she said, “Sasikala and her family ran the party like a company, not heeding the wishes of the cadre or senior party members. All they want is someone to execute their order. I hope the Governor would make a decision that would be for the good of the State.”
