Jayalalithaa died after being pushed at residence, Sasikala did not even grieve: AIADMK leader

Chennai: A day after London-based doctor Richard Beale, who treated J Jayalalithaa until she died in December, ruled out any "conspiracy" behind her death, a senior leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Tuesday said that the former Tamil Nadu chief minister died after being pushed at her Poes Garden residence.

Ahead of AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala's swearing-in as Chief Minister, PH Pandian told a press conference that Jayalalithaa was taken to a hospital to avoid suspicion.

The former Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker alleged there was a quarrel at her Poes Garden home during which she was "pushed down" and collapsed.

Sasikala did not even grieve for Jayalalithaa, further alleged Pandian.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo hospital here 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 and former MP Manoj, a party functionary, while referring to an incident on September 22 at the Poes Garden residence before she was hospitalised.

Speaking to reporters here, the father-son duo sought a probe into the circumstances leading to the hospitalisation of Jayalalithaa.

Both the Pandians are with the ruling AIADMK party.

Manoj Pandian also claimed that Jayalalithaa had once told him that she may be poisoned to death.

"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," PH 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 Amma'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 senior Pandian also said that Jayalalithaa once said that all her assets should go to the people after her death and he (Pandian) should see to that.

The duo questioned the legality of the AIADMK General Council's election of VK Sasikala as General Secretary when the party's rules said a person can be elected to the post only by party members.

According to Manoj Pandian, there is no provision in the party's rules for an interim General Secretary and all the actions taken by her are void in law.

Opposing the elevation of Sasikala, PH 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 between 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".

The Supreme Court was moved on Monday seeking to restrain Sasikala from being sworn-in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on the grounds that she along with late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa were accused in a disproportionate assets case.

Also yesterday, London-based doctor Richard Beale, while addressing the media here, said: "There was no conspiracy. She (Jayalalithaa) had severe infection. She had supportive care."

Beale said Jayalalithaa, who headed the AIADMK, was diagnosed with sepsis bacteria in blood. He said people with sepsis become unwell in hours or days.