Chennai, 18th Aug: Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Ms. Jayalalithaa death to be probed by a Retd. Judge, announced CM Palaniswami Yesterday, which will give way for a merger of two AIDMK factions in the state.  An investigation into the death of former chief minister was demand by the AIADMK faction led by O Panneerselvam ahead of an expected merger with the group under chief minister E Palanisami. CM also announced that, Jayalalithaa’s residence, Poes Garden, will be turned into a memorial.

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday ordered a judicial probe into the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, one of the main conditions put forward the AIADMK faction led by O Panneerselvam for the merger of the two factions. The move comes after beleaguered AIADMK leader TTK Dinakaran, nephew of jailed AIADMK chief VK Sasikala, held a show of strength rally in Madurai earlier this week in which 20 party and independent legislators participated. Chief minister EK Palaniswami had removed Dinakaran from the post of deputy general secretary of AIADMK earlier this month. Sasikala is serving a prison term in a disproportionate assets case in which late chief minister Jayalalithaa was the main accused.

Palaniswami also announced that Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa, Veda Nilayam, will be turned into a memorial.
The other precondition that the Panneerselvam-led Puratchi Thalaivi Amma faction set for talks included removal of jailed AIADMK chief VK Sasikala and her family members from the party.