STALIN CALLS ON SONIA TO HOLD TALKS ON TAMIL NADU SITUATION
NEW DELHI: DMK working president MK Stalin met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday, days after chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami won a turbulent trust vote in the Tamil Nadu assembly.
Described as a courtesy call by Congress leaders, Stalin discussed with the Gandhis his future strategy vis-à-vis the new government in the state under Palaniswami — a loyalist of jailed AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala.
The meeting assumes significance in the wake of political turmoil in the state following the revolt in the ruling AIADMK after the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.
The Congress had stood by the DMK in its decision to seek the vote of confidence through secret ballot. The DMK strategy was driven by its hope that a split in the AIADMK would force the governor to bring the state under President’s rule and eventually lead to fresh elections.
The best scenario for the DMK is fresh polls at a juncture when the AIADMK is deeply divided.
Stalin also met President Pranab Mukherjee and urged him to annul the vote of confidence.
CHENNAI: Deepa Jayakumar, niece of late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, formally entered the political arena on Friday, the 69th birth anniversary of her aunt, ending months of speculation.
The “MGR Amma Deepa Peravai” is not a new party but an initiative to “revive Amma’s AIADMK,” Deepa said, adding she would contest elections from the RK Nagar constituency, the borough of the late Jayalalithaa.
As a war of words broke out between the rival factions in the ruling AIADMK, the state government led by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, his predecessor and dissident leader O Panneerselvam and AIADMK observed the birth anniversary of the late chief minister in different ways including holding of medical camps and planting of saplings.
Addressing a crowded press conference at her home, Deepa said her political journey had “begun” and also unveiled a flag depicting the images of Jayalalithaa and M G Ramachandran which she said was only a flag of the forum.
Responding to a query, Deepa said the people desired that she contest from R K Nagar constituency that fell vacant following the demise of the late AIADMK supremo. Deepa, who will be the treasurer of the forum, said her next course of action would be decided in due course and she would reveal it at the “appropriate time”.
Meanwhile, once a supporter of V K Sasikala, Jayalalithaa’s nephew Deepak Jayakumar has now said her becoming the chief minister was not acceptable to the people of Tamil Nadu, while claiming that the late AIADMK chief had left behind her properties to him and his sister.
He claimed the former chief minister had bequeathed her properties, including her Veda Nilayam bungalow in Poes Garden here, to his sister Deepa and him, by leaving behind a will.