CM Palaniswami orders probe into Jaya's death; to make memorial at Poes Garden

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami on Thursday said that a judicial probe will be conducted into the death of former CM J Jayalalithaa.

Jayalalithaa passed away on December 5, 2016 in a Chennai hospital after a prolonged illness.

Palaniswami said that the probe committee will be headed by a retired High Court judge.

The 63-year-old chief minister also said that Jayalalithaa's bungalow, named Veda Nilayam in Poes Garden area of Chennai, will be converted into a government memorial and will be made accessible to the public soon.

A judicial probe into Jayalalithaa's death and the memorial were some of the conditions laid by the former chief minister O Panneerselvam-led faction of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) for a merger of the two warring factions.

Panneerselvam had earlier demanded a probe into the "mysterious death" of Jayalalithaa ever since he resigned as the chief minister in February this year. He had also said that he was not allowed to meet Jayalalithaa in the hospital.

The former CM further claimed that VK Sasikala and people associated with her had not accepted his suggestion of taking Jayalalithaa to the United Kingdom for treatment.

Paneerselvam had also rejected the treatment summary released by the state government earlier this year.

Expulsion of VK Sasikala and her family members from the party is now the only remaining demand left to be met before the two factions can agree to merge.