AIADMK’s new party chief Sasikala Natarajan discouraged to contest from the seat which Amma represented. Workers of the party including women protested against P Vetrivel appeal to Ms Natarajan to fight from the seat Jayalalithaa represented. However, lawmaker Mr Vetrivel called the protests and blamed it on the opposition DMK. He said,
“Some people are from fool’s paradise. I think the DMK is instigating them.”
DMK on the other hand called the allegation cheap.
According to sources, some senior officers have suggested that Ms Natarajan must contest from Madurai.
While a few miles off Chennai at T Nagar, Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar had a hundred AIADMK workers gathered outside her home, asking her to lead them. Although she insisted that she has not made up her mind and declared,
“At an appropriate time I shall announce my decision. None can stop me,”
The discontentment is evident among the party workers despite the fact that Sasikala have been the closest aide to Amma; as protestors walked a silent rally on Thursday, the 30th day after Amma’s death against the selection of the new chief of AIADMK.
A Senior citizen P Kuppu said,
“We only came for Amma. Tell Chinnamma (Sasikala) to not imagine we have come to vote for her.”
V Padma, another woman worker said
“She was in hospital for 77 days. Did they show Amma to us?”
