Being harassed to prevent me from contesting bypoll: Jaya's niece

March 13, 2017 08:53

Deepa Jayakumar, the niece of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, has alleged that she is being harassed to prevent her from contesting the bypoll in R K Nagar assembly seat to be held on April 12.

Apparently referring to AIADMK chief V K Sasikala's camp, she said, "Right from the day I announced that I will be contesting in R K Nagar assembly constituency, I am being harassed in several ways indirectly."

"I could not even stay at my house and goons are being sent against me. I do not know who (goons) they are...," Jayakumar told reporters. "Several conspiracies are being hatched to prevent me from contesting in the bypoll," she alleged.

In an unexpected move, she paid homage at Jayalalithaa's memorial at the Marina Beach in Chennai at around 10 pm on Sunday and sat there in meditation for some time. Former chief minister O Panneerselvam had also sat in meditation on February 7 at the memorial before revolting against Sasikala.

Announcing the founding of MGR Amma Deepa Peravai on February 24, Jayakumar had said she will contest from R K Nagar assembly constituency that fell vacant following the death of Jayalalithaa on December 5 last year.

Meanwhile, AIADMK Coimbatore North MLA PRG Arunkumar on Sunday called ondissident leader O Panneerselvam and joined hands with the rebel camp, taking the number of legislators supporting it to 12.

Arunkumar had moved out of the Koovathur resort last month, where thosesupporting party general secretary V K Sasikala were lodged, to his home town, Coimbatore, and did not participate in the February 18 trust vote.

Against this background, he called on the former chief minister at his residence in Chennai on Sunday today and extended his support. He had said AIADMK going the way of a 'single family' (apparently in a reference to V K Sasikala) was not agreeable to him.

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