Jayalalithaaa samadhi now a stage for political stunts

Chennai: Even while there is a controversy over the Marina memorial for former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa following the Supreme Court verdict finding her guilty in the disproportionate assets case, the burial place has become a stage for political stunts by the various factions of the AIADMK.

It started with former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam performing a 40-minute penance, before revolting against AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala, two days after she was elected as the Chief Minister by the legislative party.

Later, Sasikala, before going to the Bengaluru prison forcefully struck thrice at the memorial and the act was explained as taking vows at the leader’s burial place. Earlier, she had visited the memorial before taking over as the general secretary and after her election as Chief Minister.

Jayalalithaa’s niece J. Deepa too followed her competitors and went to the burial place of Jayalalithaa and paid floral tributes. She also spent a lot of time before the burial place, but failed to attract the attention obtained by Panneerselvam or Sasikala.  The latest visitor to the burial place is Deepa’s husband Patrick Madhavan who had quarreled with his wife and announced the formation of a new party.

It has become a symbol of Jayalalithaa’s legacy since finance minister D. Jayakumar too visited the spot and placed the budget papers before heading for the Assembly to table it. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami  visited it after taking over as Chief Minister and makes it a point to visit it often, to mark major occasions.  As the fight for Jayalalithaa’s legacy is hotting up, Jayalalithaa’s burial place is certain to see many such visits to evoke her memory and legacy.