And now, it's Latha versus Jayalalitha

Actress Latha, who starred with the late Tamil Nadu chief minister M G Ramachandran in numerous celluloid blockbusters, on Wednesday joined the Thirunavukkarasu faction of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Her reason for plunging into politics: she wanted to help rebuild the party which she said was in disarray after Jayalalitha Jayaram's five-year rule of the state.

Addressing a press conference after formally joining the party in the presence of Thirunavukkarasu and other frontline leaders, Latha said Jayalalitha had defamed MGR's reputation and misused her position in the government and in the party for personal aggrandisement and for the benefit of a family (a reference to the family of Sasikala Natarajan).

Latha had joined the AIADMK when MGR floated it in 1972, but was not an active member. She acted in 120 South Indian movies and was recognised as a leading star after she starred in lead roles opposite MGR.

With Latha joining the Thirunavukkarasu faction, two leading ladies in MGR movies, Jayalalitha and Latha, are now ranged against each other in the two factions bearing the same name.

Asked whether Latha would be given any position in the party, Thirunavukkarasu said that would be decided later. Latha said she would undertake a tour of Tamil Nadu in consultation with party leaders, but claimed she did not hanker after any position.

By rejoining the AIADMK and taking an active role in public life, Latha said she was only repaying a debt of gratitude to MGR.

Referring to continuing communal violence in the state, Thirunavukkarasu said the killing of panchayat president Murugesan and five others at Thennagarampatti village near Madurai on Monday was condemnable and the police should have taken precautionary measures as he had sought protection as his life was threatened.

Deleting the names of political leaders from districts and transport corporations as done by the government on Monday, Thirunavakkarasu felt, would not by itself avert caste clashes. Many roads, townships, colonies, and public buildings were still named after various leaders, he pointed out. His party was for retaining the existing names but not to allow new names, he added.

UNI