A day after she expressed her willingness to merger her party with the AIADMK, former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's niece Deeepa Jayakumar has said the ruling party was allegedly adopting various tactics to put pressure on her to join the party to strengthen it. "One such tactics is the present case before this court," Rani, counsel for Deepa, informed the Madras High Court on Monday.
The submission was made when the division bench of Justices N.Kirubakaran and Abdul Quddhose was hearing the appeal filed by Pugazhendhi, South Chennai District Deputy Secretary of J Jayalalithaa Peravai which sought appointing him as administrator to administer the properties of Jayalalithaa. Only on Sunday, Deepa expressed her willingness to work with the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, a party headed by her aunt. Speaking to journalists in Salem, she said, "This is an organisation that belongs to the AIADMK, there is no doubt about it. I am clear about this right from the beginning. Even I would like to work with the AIADMK."
Stating that the decision was announced formally in the general body meeting of her party, she claimed that members of her political party shared her stance.
She added: "It was initiated for AIADMK cadres. I am clear about this right from the beginning..." It may be recalled that on the occasion of the 69th birth anniversary of her aunt Jayalalithaa, Deepa had launched the outfit MGR Amma Deepa Peravai in February 2017.
