NEW DELHI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Local government's efforts in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu to convert residential house of its former chief minister and top politician J Jayalalithaa into a memorial has been opposed by her niece and nephew.
Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar and nephew Deepak Friday threatened to move to court to claim the property of their aunt.
Jayakumar has tried to stake claim to her aunt's political legacy. Her previous move to enter the Poes Garden residence (Jayalalithaa house) was sabotaged as guards deployed there stopped her from entering it.
Deepak has written to incumbent Chief Minister E Palaniswami that the government should seek their consent before taking over the property. In the letter, it has been reportedly communicated that Jayalalithaa had not left any will regarding her property.
"I am legal heir to the property by a probated will of my grandma Mrs Sandhya (Jayalalithaa's mother). Though we may be willing to give the property to our aunty's memorial, the government shall follow the procedures established under law before attempting to take over the private property without the consent of the heirs, owners," Deepak stated in his letter to the Tamil Nadu chief minister.
Jayalalithaa died in December last year after prolonged illness. Her closest aide V K Sasikala, who lived with her for decades, took control of the residence and ruling party. Her taking over the party saw a bifurcation in the regional AIADMK party.
The decision to convert Poes Garden in Chennai city, the capital of Tamil Nadu, into a memorial is one of the conditions put forth by rebel faction in the ruling AIADMK for a merger.
Sasikala is currently undergoing a jail sentence in disproportionate assets case.
Jayalalithaa, a former movie star, has served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu on numerous occasions since 1991. Her supporters and party men had given her the name Amma which in Tamil language means mother.
She was head of the regional AIADMK party and her tenure was surrounded by controversies. She had been jailed on charges of corruption.
