Step-brother' waits for Amma's largesse in Mysuru

Mysuru: “I am very happy that  people have given the mandate to Ms Jayalalithaa in the Assembly election results in Tamil Nadu.” This was the reaction of 80-year-old N.J. Vasudevan, who claims to be the step-brother of TN Chief Minister and now resides in Srirangarajapuram in T Narsipur taluk of Mysuru district.

He said, “This result was unexpected because post-poll surveys indicated that she may be relegated to second place. Compared to other elections, this time she had a tough fight on her hands. She had failed to fulfil some promises which she made to people of Tamil Nadu during the previous term. Hope she will fulfil them this time.” Vasudevan claims that he is the only son of late R. Jayaram and his first wife, Jayamma. Ms Jayalalithaa, according to him, is the daughter of Jayaram and his second wife Vedamma (Sandhya).

“Jayalalitha’s mother shifted from Mysuru to Chennai after our father passed away in 1949, at that time, Jayalalithaa was only four and a half years old. She is unaware of me. But Ms Jayalalithaa’s mother was my mother’s cousin’s sister. So her mother knew about us. My grandfather, Dr N. Rangachar was the personal doctor of late Mysuru Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar and he had gifted a few jewels during the wedding of my parents. In 1998, I claimed the jewels and it was at that time that  Jayalalitha got to know about me. Though I have studied till BCom, I used to help my maternal grandfather in managing the fields. Now my wife Jayammal and son Venugopal too  passed away,” he said.

He added, “I am left with no property, except a small house. I am a BP patient and have undergone angioplasty. I need Rs 40 per day for medicines alone. I only get old age pension of Rs 500 per month. I have written to her (Jayalalithaa) several times, but she has never responded. She may be Amma for seven crore people of TN, but she does nothing for this ailing soul (smiles). That is ok. I will send a registered post congratulating her,” he said.