Almost two weeks after her death, a newborn girl was named after former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
VK Sasikala, her closest aide and 'political heir' as described by the party, named a newborn ‘Jayalalithaa’ at the Poes Garden residence of the late CM on Sunday.
The baby is the child of AIADMK party members Gaythri and Senthil Kumar. Senthil Kumar is an auto driver and a resident of Theni district.
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In Tamil Nadu, many party cadres and even fans of movie actors name their children after their icons. Infants are named after popular personalities, both dead and alive. Most times, such naming ceremonies are organised by fan clubs or the party itself.
Jayalalithaa passed away at the age of 68 on 5 December following a cardiac arrest and prolonged hospitalisation stretching over two months.
She had a cardiac arrest on 4 December evening and was rushed back to the Intensive Care Unit or ICU of Apollo Hospital.
During Jayalalithaa's final journey, Sasikala and her family had flanked Jayalalithaa’s body.
Sasikala and Jayalalithaa’s nephew Deepak performed the last rites.
Although Sasikala presently holds no posts in the party, it is only a matter of time before she is elected as the party's General Secretary.
From 10 December, AIADMK leaders from various districts have been lining up at Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence urging Sasikala to take over as supremo.
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