Late and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar, introducing herself as a candidate for her political legacy, said today that a majority in Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK want her as their leader - not her aunt's long-time friend Sasikala Natarajan.
"There isn't anyone else and I have proof. I want to make this landmark change in my life on a very special day (February 24th- birth anniversary of Jayalalithaa). Deepa's debut press conference was also set for a day the party marks the birth centenary of its founder and Jayalalithaa's mentor, MG Ramachandran (MGR).
Deepa said she wants to follow in her aunt's footsteps and is inclined to contest from her RK Nagar constituency in Chennai. "The cadre is very eager. They want me to become their leader," says she.
Whether she will join the AIADMK and openly challenge Sasikala or start her own party is a decision she says she will take "after consulting with the party cadre and the people".
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