CHENNAI, India — The ruling party in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu AIADMK on Sunday said a total of 470 people have died of “shock” following the demise of former state chief minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa and a popular south Indian leader on Dec. 5.
The party, which has been releasing in the past few days the lists of people who have died of shock over the death Jayalalithaa, on Sunday released names of 190 people.
In a statement that accompanied the list, the party condoled their deaths and announced relief of Rs3 lakh (Rs300,000) each to the families of the deceased. The party said the total number of people who had died now stood at 470.
The statement added that six people had attempted suicide thus far, including four people whose details were released on Sunday.
The party had earlier announced Rs 50,000 for one person who allegedly attempted suicide and another who had cut off his finger after hearing about Jayalalithaa’s death.
In the latest statement, the party announced Rs50,000 for the four people for their medical treatment.
In another development, the new chief minster, O Panneerselvam requested Jayalalithaa’s long time aide Sasikala to take over the party’s reins as genereal secretary.
“There is no second opinion on the issue. If anyone has second thoughts, they are not true AIADMK workers,” Jaya Plus Tamil TV channel reported Panneerselvam as saying.
He said, “Sasikala shared Jayalalithaa’s grief, she lived with her as her trusted aide and was like a sister.
“She imbibed the thoughts and working style of Jayalalithaa by being with her for over 30 years. She lived like Jayalalithaa’s shadow till Amma’s death,” he said.
“Like Amma, Chinnamma (as Sasikala is referred to by party workers) knows each and every party worker. To ensure continuance of the party’s functioning with the same level of discipline one can find in the army,
brought about by Amma, the only way out in the present situation is for Chinnamma to become the general secretary and lead the ruling party,” he said.
