High drama at Jayalalithaa’s house: Jayakumar, Deepak protest in front of Poes Garden

CHENNAI: The niece and nephew of Tamil Nadu's former chief Minister J Jayalalithaa attempted to display dominance over their aunt's residence and once the seat of power in Tamil Nadu -- Veda Nilayam in Poes Garden -- but the event turned out to display only the fissures between the kin as they arrived at the house amid chaotic security arrangements and ended about hurling accusations at each other.

Deepak Jayakumar, son of Jayalalithaa's deceased elder brother, and Deepak's sister Deepa Jayakumar arrived this morning at Veda Nilayam. Deepak, admitting to have called up Deepa to invite her over to Poes Garden, told ET he was flabbergasted as to why Deepa Jayakumar ended up accusing him of assaulting her and her associates and plotting with VK Sasikala against the former chief minister. Asked why he felt it necessary to visit his aunt's residence, Deepak: "I don't have to any reason to be at Veda Nilayam. It's my ancestral property. When time comes, I will prove that I'm entitled for that."

Deepa, on the other hand, claimed she was not allowed entry into the bungalow. Minor scuffles broke out between members of the press and private security guards at the premises of the former chief minister. Lobbing a bombshell accusation that her brother Deepak conspired with Sasikala VK against the former chief minister, Deepa told members of the press at the Garden that she had sought an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter.


The Poes Garden wrangle is the latest in a series high-voltage personality clashes that appears to be confusing ground-level cadre and triggering talk of deep factionalism in the party. As the Jayakumars take forward the struggle to gain control of Jayalalithaa's property, her political inheritances are being hotly contested by three factions now, headed by chief minister EK Palaniswami, the party's deputy General Secretary TTV Dinakaran and rebel legislator O Panneerselvam.

The opposition party appears only to be well aware of the political leverage the infighting within the AIADMK presents to MK Stalin, the leader of opposition.