AIADMK factions jostle to claim Jayalalithaa’s legacy

CHENNAI: The first death anniversary of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday brought to the fore the jostling claimants for her legacy from rival camps in the AIADMK with the one led by TTV Dhinarakan and the other by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam. While team Dhinakaran expressed frustration over barricading by the police department that led a portion of his supporters reversing from the scene, the ruling AIADMKtookout a silent march in the city which saw a good turnout of AIADMK supporters.

The ruling dispensation led by deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam and chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had announced on November 24 that ministers and cadre will “peacefully” march from the Anna Statue on the arterial Anna Salai to Jayalalithaa’s grave. Police officials said they had drafted elaborate plans to provide security for the leaders and also maximise traffic flow along the busy route.

A top police official, wishing to remain anonymous said “We had expected such a large turnout. The police-officer deployment was around 5,000 just for this purpose. Women were given separate enclosures; arrangements were made for senior citizens and the press too. We took the help of party volunteers to set up the structures for this event.” Asked specifically if the Dhinakaran faction was partially curbed from visiting in full force, the officer replied: “That is not correct. He was allowed just as everyone else was.”

The ruling AIADMK had made a call for all party functionaries including flanks such as the youth wing, lawyers consortium and so on to add strength to the procession. What the party hosted was a three-tier event: The procession, paying homage to Jayalalithaa memorial, and an oath to “follow in the footsteps of Jayalalithaa in their political journey.”