Veteran All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader P H Pandian on Tuesday raised suspicions over J Jayalalithaa’s death, alleging there was a quarrel at her Poes Garden home during which she was ‘pushed down’ and collapsed even as he stoutly opposed making her close aide V K Sasikala as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
In a fresh twist to the row over the death of the AIADMK supremo and former chief minister, Pandian, an ex-assembly speaker, suspected foul play, alleging that her demise occurred under unnatural circumstances and demanded a probe on her hospitalisation.
Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo hospital in Chennai on September 22 and passed away on December five after a 75-day battle for her life.
Pandian levelled the allegations at a joint news conference along with his son Manoj, a party functionary, while referring to an incident on September 22 at the Poes Garden residence before she was hospitalised.
“On the night of September 22, there was a war of words between the people of the house. It was about some happening with the other side’s family (Sasikala’s family) and Jayalalithaa and she was pushed down. She fell down and she became unconscious,” P H Pandian alleged, adding, “This appeared in the papers next day.”
Questioning the secrecy surrounding the death of Jayalalithaa, he said events that took place ahead of Jayalalithaa’s hospitalisation should be probed involving those at home. “The hospital may cite patient’s right of privacy, but no one at home can take this defence,” he said.
Pandian said he remained silent since the death of Jayalalithaa but the scenario of Tamil Nadu politics in the past two days have been ‘disturbing me and are pushing me to confess a lot of truths regarding Jayalalithaa’s passing’.
The charges were made by Pandian, a day after London-based specialist Richard Beale, Apollo and government doctors ruled out poisoning as the cause of Jayalalithaa’s death and asserted that there was ‘no conspiracy’ or mystery in either the line of treatment or what led to her end.
Opposing the elevation of Sasikala, Pandian said she does not have the locus standi to either be the party chief or chief minister.
He said it was against party rules. “Only cadres can elect the general secretary.”
“Sasikala does not deserve to be either the party supremo or the chief minister,” Pandian said, two days after Sasikala was elected AIADMK Legislature Party leader, paving the way for her becoming the chief minister.
Pandian claimed that within 20 days of the demise of Jayalalithaa, party leaders were ‘made to say’ that they wanted Sasikala to be the party chief.
Manoj, who was also AIADMK Rajya Sabha member during 2010-16, referred to the ‘present developments’, an apparent reference to Sasikala being chosen AIADMK Legislature party leader, and said it was ‘happening against the wishes of the people by betraying them’.
Reacting to Pandian’s charges, AIADMK spokesperson C R Saraswathi alleged that he wanted to split the party.
“Why is he creating a scene now? What was he doing during those 60 days (since Jayalalithaa’s death)?” she asked.
Saraswati alleged that in 1989, two years after the death of MG Ramachandran, he opposed ‘Amma’ and stood by Janaki Ramchandran (MGR’s widow).
“Claims (are) being made to create confusion now... he could have approached the party forum,” she said.
Sengottaiyan stressed that Pandian did not contribute to the party at crucial junctures like during the efforts to retrieve the ‘two-leaves’ symbol for the AIADMK which was unified after lot of efforts by party veterans.
“You should not forget that Pandian joined the Tirunavukkarasar faction (now Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief) in 1991 and fought polls on a DMK ticket,” he said.
Denying all the allegations of Pandian, he said the former assembly speaker had fought the 1996 assembly election as an independent candidate which resulted in both the AIADMK nominee and him facing defeat.
Questioning Pandian's claims, AIADMK MLA K A Sengottaiyan charged that the former was behind filing of some court cases against late chief minsiter Jayalalithaa like the one against allotment of security personnel to her in 1996.
Though Pandian should have been grateful to the party for the positions it had bestowed on him and his family members, the AIADMK leader said, “He did not do that, he has joined the rank of detractors who are causing confusion.”
Sengottaiyan said the party was united and no one can stop Sasikala from taking over as Tamil Nadu chief minister.
Answering a question on perceived delay in Sasikala taking over as the Chief Minsiter, Sengottaiyan said, “We need to fix an auspicious day, arrangements are happening at University Auditorium...have we given any invitation for swearing-in?
“General Council can recommend a person to be in-charge so that he or she can discharge the functions of the general secretary till such time a regular election is held for the post of general secretary,” Ramachandran said replying to Pandian questioning the elevation of Sasikala as against party rules.
The two AIADMK leaders also said Sasikala was the ‘unanimous’ choice of the party and legislators.
On Pandian raising some suspicions over Jayalalithaa’s death, he asked ‘what is the proof? Did he show any proof?’
Ramachandran said only medical doctors were the competent authorities to speak on such issues, adding, “They did not say anything like that (indicating suspicious death).”
Meanwhile, another senior leader Ponnaiyan said Sasikala will soon assume charge as chief minister.
He praised her for her ‘organisational talent’ and ‘efficiency’.
