Not afraid of Sasikala, will announce my political intentions on Feb.24: Jayalalithaa's niece

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Feb. 7 (ANI): Late Tamil Nadu chief minister J.Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar on Tuesday said she is not afraid of her aunt's probable successor Sasikala Nattarajan, adding that she has plan to enter politics for which the announcement would be made on February 24. "I have entered politics because I am the niece of Jayalalithaa, so for that stake I will be making an announcement on 24 on her birthday as a tribute to her," Deepa told ANI. Speaking on the AIADMK's decision to elect Sasikala as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Deepa said, "A democratically elected leader would be the best choice for Tamil Nadu and in that sense this cannot be accepted." She further said that she is not scared of Sasikala and her ascension within the party is creating instability in Tamil Nadu. "There is instability in Tamil Nadu, people are very much worried. To become a chief minister being with someone for 33 years is not a qualification," Deepa added. AIADMK general secretary Sasikala Natarajan on Sunday was elected as the legislative party leader of the party and with this she is all set to take over as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Incumbent Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu O. Panneerselvam proposed the name of Chinnamma (Sasikala Natarajan) as the AIADMK legislative party leader. Governor Vidhya Sagar Rao accepted Panneerselvam's resignation from the post of Chief Minister. Rao however directed the senior AIADMK leader to function until alternate arrangements are made. Earlier today, AIADMK leader H. Pandiyan questioned the manner in which Sasikala was elected as the legislative party leader and said that she does not have the quality to become the chief minister. "Sasikala Natarajan doesn't have the quality to be the AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. I haven't come out of sadness after Jayalalithaa's demise," he said. (ANI)