The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Sunday said the number of people who have died from shock and grief over late chief minister J Jayalalithaa has now reached 470. The state’s ruling party had announced Rs 3-lakh compensation for the people who have died because of the leader’s demise last week. On Saturday, the AIADMK had said 203 people had died of grief. These numbers have not been independently verified by Scroll.in.
The state government on Saturday had passed a resolution allotting Rs 15 crore to build a memorial for Jayalalithaa, or Amma, as she was called. It also resolved to ask the Centre to bestow the Bharat Ratna on the late chief minister.
The announcement comes amid much speculation and controversy over who will succeed Jayalalithaa as chief of the AIADMK. While the party has supported the leader’s longtime aide Sasikala Natarajan for the post of general secretary, others including Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar have questioned the manner in which Amma’s death was handled. Jayakumar has also told Scroll.in that if no explanation regarding her aunt’s death was given, she would take the matter “directly to the people, who would not allow anyone to hijack the AIADMK.”
Jayalalithaa had been in hospital from September 22 till she died on December 5. The 68-year-old was buried near her mentor MG Ramachandran’s memorial at Marina Beach in Chennai. Her death came as a shock to the state and party workers. The popular leader was the first chief minister to win a second consecutive term in the state in 32 years, after she won the state Assembly elections in May.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!