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SC asks woman claiming to be Jayalalithaa’s daughter to move Karnataka HC

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8 years ago

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Amrutha Sarathy, brought up as the daughter of the late AIADMK chief’s estranged sister, claims a DNA test will prove Jayalalithaa was her real mother

The continuing war within the AIADMK and among close aides of J Jayalalithaa to claim the deceased leader’s legacy got a fresh twist on Monday as a woman – 37-year-old Amrutha Sarathy – moved the Supreme Court seeking a DNA test which she claimed would prove that she is the biological daughter of the former Tamil Nadu chief minister.

While the Supreme Court Bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta dismissed the writ petition moved by Amrutha through her counsel, senior advocate Indira Jaisingh, on the grounds that it was not maintainable under Article 32 of the Constitution, the new twist in the ever-evolving AIADMK political potboiler is clearly one that will be keenly monitored.

The disappointment in the Supreme Court is not likely to dissuade Amrutha, who was brought up as the daughter of Jayalalithaa’s estranged younger sister Shylaja, from pressing for a DNA test to establish that the deceased Tamil icon was her real mother.

Amrutha has been told by the apex court that she can approach the Karnataka High Court with her demand.

Since Jayalalithaa’s ‘mysterious’ death at Chennai’s Apollo Hospital last year, there has been a constant war between political leaders and her close-confidante, the jailed VK Sasikala, for claiming the former chief minister’s legacy.

While it seemed the patch-up between Jayalalithaa’s political aides – Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi Palaniswamy and his deputy O Panneerselvam – and their recent victory against VK Sasikala in the quest to get rights to the AIADMK’s ‘two-leaves’ election symbol, was the beginning of an end to the legacy-war, Amrutha’s claim now adds a new twist to the saga.

Interestingly, Amrutha’s aunts – LS Lalitha and Ranjani Ravindranath – both cousins of Jayalalithaa, are co-petitioners in the case that the 37-year-old had filed. Lalithaa and Ranjani had sought the apex court’s intervention to help Amrutha prove her relationship with Jayalalithaa, which they claim was thwarted by AIADMK leader Sasikala.

Amrutha’s story is fascinating, one that could easily pass off as a spicy movie script in Bollywood, or even the Tamil film industry of which Jayalalithaa was a reigning queen before her plunge into politics.

Amrutha has claimed that she was born on August 14, 1980, at Jayalalithaa’s residence in the Mylapore neighbourhood of Chennai but the birth was kept a secret to avoid social stigma and “uphold the dignity of the family as they belonged to a very religious, orthodox and cultured Brahmin family”.

Jayalalithaa, at least as per known official records, had never married and Amrutha’s petition didn’t expressly mention who she believes her biological father was. However, in her petition before the SC, Amrutha claimed that she was adopted by Jayalalithaa’s elder sister, Shylaja, at birth. Shylaja died in 2015 while her husband, Sarathy, died in March this year. Amrutha’s petition claims that on his deathbed, Sarathy confessed that he was in a relationship with Jayalalithaa.

“It was upon the death of Late Ms. J. Jayalalitha that Amrutha came to know through close family relatives – LS Lalitha and Ranjani Ravindranath – that she is in fact the biological daughter of Late Ms. J. Jayalalitha and thus, to ascertain the same, the Petitioners herein are seeking remedy under Article 32 of the Constitution of India for a declaration of the same through an identifiable method to know the maternity i.e., through deoxyribonucleic acid test (hereinafter referred to as DNA Test) which is to be undertaken by any institute of national repute to ascertain and establish the maternity of the Petitioner No.1 (Amrutha),” states the petition.

As per official records, Jayalalithaa is known to have only one sibling, a brother – the late Jayakumar. Curiously, Jayakumar’s daughter Deepa Jayakumar, has refuted the claims being made by Amrutha while other close aides of Jayalalithaa have on earlier occasions asserted that she had no other sibling.

Detailing the circumstances of her birth in her petition, Amrutha says: “It was decided amongst the family members that the birth and adoption of the Petitioner No.1 will be kept as a secret and therefore all of them, viz., Late Mrs. Jayalakshmi, Late Ms. J. Jayalalitha, Late Mrs. Shylaja and her husband Late Mr. Sararthy took a promise in front of God and amongst themselves that they will not disclose the true facts and circumstances of birth of the Petitioner No. 1.”

However, Amrutha goes on to say in her petition that that she had visited Jayalalithaa on several occasions during her lifetime and that the AIADMK chief would always treat her with “motherly affection” and had even had her enrolled as a member of the AIADMK.

Things, according to Amrutha, seem to have taken a sudden turn for the worse when Jayalalithaa was hospitalized last year at Apollo Hospital. During the over 70-day hospitalized, which eventually ended with Jayalalithaa’s demise, Amrutha claims she often tried to meet her ‘mother’ but that she was chased away by the security on Sasikala’s instructions. She also alleges that she was obstructed from paying her last respects to Jayalalithaa at the Rajaji Hall.

The mystery around Amrutha’s ‘foster’ mother Shylaja:

In an interview to Junior Vikatan in 2014, Shylaja claimed that she is the third sibling born to Sandhya and Jayaram, with Jayalalithaa being the eldest and Jayakumar the middle child. “I was a three-month-old foetus when my father died. My mother entered films and gave me to art director Damodar Pillai’s son, who raised me,” Shylaja told JV.

According to Shylaja, she lived in Ramanathapuram till the age of five. In the interview to Junior Vikatan, Shylaja had also claimed that Jayalalithaa’s mother, Sandhya, used to meet her twice or thrice a week. “She used to take me out to buy chocolate. She used to make me wear gold and feel happy. She once took me to JC road Shivaji theatre to watch my akka’s (elder sister Jayalalithaa) film.”

However, when quizzed on whether she had any document to prove her story, Shylaja had replied in the negative. She said she had a photograph with her mother Sandhya but it was “somehow lost”. Like Amrutha is doing now, Shylaja had then claimed: “If you take my DNA test you will know (that I am Jayalalithaa’s sister)… When I was 16 years old, my adopted father took me to the Kannada superstar Rajkumar uncle. As soon as he saw me, Rajkumar asked Damodaran, ‘Is this Sandhya’s daughter?’ To that, my father said yes.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Priyanka Gandhi meets Nitin Gadkari over Kerala road projects, light moments mark discussion

Priyanka Gandhi met Nitin Gadkari in Parliament to discuss road projects in Kerala, with the meeting marked by humour, political remarks and an informal food tasting.

Published

17 hours ago

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December 18, 2025

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Priyanka Gandhi meets Nitin Gadkari (1)

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari at his office in Parliament to raise issues related to road infrastructure projects passing through Kerala. The meeting combined formal discussions with lighter moments, including a humorous exchange and an unexpected food tasting session.

Kerala road projects discussed at Parliament meeting

Priyanka Gandhi, the Member of Parliament from Wayanad in Kerala, discussed six road projects that pass through the state. During the interaction, Nitin Gadkari clarified that some of these projects fall under the jurisdiction of the Kerala government and therefore cannot be directly handled by the Centre. However, he assured the Congress leader that the remaining proposals would be examined.

According to those present, the discussion remained cordial, with both sides acknowledging administrative limitations while exploring possible ways forward.

‘Bhai ka kaam ho gaya’ remark draws laughter

The meeting also saw a light-hearted moment when Gadkari referred to a recent interaction with Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He said Rahul Gandhi had met him earlier regarding road-related concerns in Rae Bareli.

In a humorous remark, Gadkari said that if work was done for the brother but not for the sister, it could lead to complaints. The comment prompted laughter from Priyanka Gandhi and others present in the room.

Congress confident of future action in Kerala

During the conversation, Priyanka Gandhi expressed confidence about the Congress party’s prospects in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections. She indicated that proposals currently under the purview of the Left Front government in the state would be taken forward once Congress comes to power.

Her remarks reflected political confidence while keeping the focus on infrastructure needs in Kerala.

A homemade dish adds informal touch

Apart from policy discussions, the meeting included an informal culinary moment. Nitin Gadkari had prepared a rice-based dish after learning the recipe from online videos. Visitors to his office were offered rice balls served with chutney.

Gadkari encouraged Priyanka Gandhi to taste the dish, and she, along with Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda, was seen sampling the food while continuing their conversation with the minister.

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AAP dominates Punjab zila parishad polls, leads in most panchayat samiti zones

AAP has won 201 out of 317 declared zila parishad zones in Punjab so far and is leading in a majority of panchayat samiti seats, with counting still underway.

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17 hours ago

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December 18, 2025

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Punjab Zila Parishad Polls

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has recorded a strong performance in the Punjab zila parishad elections and is leading in the majority of panchayat samiti zones, as per results declared so far on Thursday. The counting process is still underway and complete results are awaited, officials said.

Polling for the rural local bodies was held on December 14 to elect representatives across 347 zones of 22 zila parishads and 2,838 zones of 153 panchayat samitis in the state.

AAP secures clear edge in zila parishads

According to the available results, outcomes have been declared for 317 zila parishad zones so far. Of these, the AAP has won 201 zones, placing it well ahead of other parties.

The Congress emerged second with victories in 60 zones, followed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) with 39 zones. The BJP won four zones, the BSP secured three, while independents claimed 10 zones.

District-wise data shows that the AAP won 22 zones in Hoshiarpur, 19 each in Amritsar and Patiala, 17 each in Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur, and 15 zones in Sangrur. The Congress registered its best performances in Gurdaspur and Ludhiana with eight zones each, followed by Jalandhar with seven zones. The SAD performed strongly in Bathinda with 13 zones, while the BJP managed to win four zones in Pathankot.

AAP leads in panchayat samiti results

In the panchayat samiti elections, trends declared so far indicate that the AAP is leading in a majority of zones. However, officials clarified that counting is ongoing and the final picture will be clear only after all ballot papers are tallied.

Kejriwal, Mann reject opposition allegations

Reacting to the trends, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said the party’s performance reflected strong rural support for the Bhagwant Mann government’s work. Addressing the media in Mohali along with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Kejriwal dismissed allegations of irregularities raised by opposition parties.

He said the elections were conducted in a fair and free manner and claimed that the results so far showed a clear wave in favour of the AAP in rural Punjab. Kejriwal stated that nearly 70 per cent of the zila parishad and panchayat samiti seats had gone in favour of the party.

Congress, SAD question poll conduct

The Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, however, accused the ruling party of misusing official machinery. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that the AAP had “stolen” the rural mandate and claimed that the results did not reflect genuine public support.

Opposition parties had earlier also accused the AAP government of high-handedness during the polling process, allegations that the ruling party has strongly denied.

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Vijay signals political push with TVK rally as last film Jana Nayagan promotion aligns with 2026 polls

Vijay combined a major TVK rally with the promotion of his final film Jana Nayagan, signalling a carefully planned transition from cinema to politics ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu polls.

Published

22 hours ago

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December 18, 2025

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Actor vijay

Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijay marked a significant moment in his political journey on December 18, combining a major public rally of his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) with a key promotional event for his final film Jana Nayagan. The twin developments underline his calibrated shift from cinema to full-time politics, with the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections clearly in focus.

Vijay addressed a large gathering near the Vijayamangalam toll plaza in Erode, marking his first major open rally after the Karur incident. Around 25,000 people were present at the venue, reflecting the sustained interest around his political entry and the mobilisation capacity of his fan base, now being encouraged to transition into party supporters.

Parallelly, the second single from Jana Nayagan was released online in the evening. The film, slated to hit theatres on January 9, has been announced as Vijay’s last cinematic outing before dedicating himself entirely to politics.

How Jana Nayagan fits into Vijay’s political strategy

Jana Nayagan, directed by H Vinoth, is positioned as more than just a farewell project to Vijay’s acting career. From its title, which translates to “People’s Leader”, to its narrative and music by Anirudh Ravichander, the film has been designed to mirror themes that Vijay has begun emphasising in his political speeches — governance, accountability and moral authority.

The actor has repeatedly projected himself in rallies as a leader who wants to serve the people of Tamil Nadu and raise issues affecting marginalised sections. The film’s tone appears to align with this image, aiming to present a restrained and serious persona without alienating his long-time fans.

By declaring Jana Nayagan as his final film, Vijay has attempted a gradual emotional transition for his supporters, with TVK hoping that this loyalty will convert into organisational strength and votes in the upcoming elections.

Analysts divided on electoral impact

Political analysts, however, remain cautious about the effectiveness of this approach. One analyst noted that while Vijay is clearly attempting to convert his massive fan following into party cadres, not every fan can realistically take on a political role. Another analyst pointed out that the film alone is unlikely to fetch votes, though messaging around issues such as corruption or dynastic politics could help Vijay gain some traction over time.

The analysts also flagged that Vijay is entering a crowded and competitive political space and that the impact of recent controversies has added to the challenges ahead. According to them, his current strategy appears to be aimed not only at 2026 but at building a longer-term political position.

Invoking legacy and symbolism

A recurring element in Vijay’s rallies has been his admiration for former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor M G Ramachandran. The second single from Jana Nayagan, titled Oru Pere Varalaaru, reinforces this aspiration, with lyrics emphasising the idea of a name that makes history and the power of the people’s voice.

While invoking MGR remains a common political trope in Tamil Nadu, analysts underline that his journey remains unmatched. They stress that sustained electoral participation and organisational strength, rather than crowd sizes at rallies, will determine Vijay’s political future.

For now, Vijay’s rally in Erode and the simultaneous promotion of Jana Nayagan highlight a carefully timed blend of cinema and politics, as he prepares to test his popularity beyond the silver screen.

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