RK Nagar Bypoll: Jaya Video Creates a Stir Among Political Parties

Prior to the by-elections, to be held on 21 December, for the RK Nagar constituency of deceased Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, TTV Dhinakaran supporter P Vetrivel released a video that shows a frail Jayalalithaa on her hospital bed.

Following the release of the clip that went viral, Vetrivel claimed to clear accusations made by rival AIADMK factions, that Amma was murdered by Sasikala and clan. P Vetrivel said that he released the video to respond to the allegations raised by the AIADMK party cadres and the people of Tamil Nadu.

Sasikala or anyone related to her family were not involved in Amma’s death. It was a natural death. Rival faction leaders say that she died in the beginning. So, I wanted to reveal to the people of Tamil Nadu and the party workers the same, so I did it.

P Vetrivel, Supporter, TTV Dinakaran Camp

The video release triggered a political battle between the parties contesting for the politically crucial seat of RK Nagar, that has been vacant since the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Tamil Nadu’s fisheries minister questioned the authenticity of the video.

TTV Dhinakaran has released a video of our guardian angel, J Jayalalithaa. His intent is to appease voters and to desperately win the RK Nagar elections. Amma was guarded by Z+ security. How did they break through security and shoot a video? Amma was admitted in Apollo hospitals several times. This questions the authenticity of the video.

D Jayakumar, Fisheries Minister

The working president of the principal opposition party contesting in the RK Nagar bypoll, DMK’s MK Stalin called the video release a crass political move. He said,“I thought AIADMK leaders will be shocked after the death of Jayalalithaa. This is unexpected. They are stooping to very low levels by politicising her death.”

BJP Chief of the state, Tamilisai Soundarajan criticised AIADMK leaders for exposing a revered chief minister for the sake of gaining political mileage.

This is very cheap politics. The time of the video release proves that it’s done to gain votes and emotionally attack voters. I suspect the authenticity of this video. Exposing a CM in this manner is incorrect. There is an inquiry commission set up to probe Amma’s death. Why did they release it before the commission did so?’

Tamilisai Soundarajan, BJP Chief, Tamil Nadu

Speaking to The Quint, Rajesh Lakhoni, the chief electoral officer from Tamil Nadu said that the release of Jayalalithaa’s video was a violation of Section 126 1(b) of the Representation of People’s Act – the penalty for which can run up to two years of imprisonment.

Video Editor: Vivek Gupta