Days after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa passed away from a cardiac arrest, a change.org petition has called for her Poes Garden residence in Chennai to be converted into a memorial.
The petition, started by Shanmugam K, requests the state government to “take the necessary steps to make her Poes Garden residence as a memorial so that there is a place for her supporters to visit and cherish her memories.” It has already received more than 13,000 signatures of endorsement.
Addressed to Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, it states that “Veda Nilayam” is an important place in the history of the state and needs to be preserved.
Jayalalithaa’s close aide Sasikala Natarajan resides at the Poes Garden residence, and there is speculation that she has inherited the property. However, there is no official word on a legal will left behind by the former CM.
In support of his argument for immediate action on the property, Shanmugam has pointed to what happened to Jayalalithaa’s mentor MG Ramachandran’s Ramapuram house, which became mired in legal battles after he passed away.
Number 81, Veda Nilayam, Poes Garden was bought by Jayalalithaa and her mother Sandhya in 1967. The property is spread over 24,000 square feet and is considered prime real estate in the city.
The petition concludes stating, “There is no harm in paying the necessary price and take over the said property and its artifacts,” and that timely action is needed to honor the people's affection towards their iconic leader.
A number of citizens have demanded that Jayalalithaaa’s house be converted into a memorial including the former editor of The Hindu, Malini Parthasarathy.
Hope "Veda Nilayam", Jaya's house in Poes Garden, which she was so fond of, becomes a memorial housing souvenirs of her iconic & great life
— Malini Parthasarathy (@MaliniP) December 6, 2016
It will be fitting if TN Govt makes Poes Garden a JJ memorial home like it has done for Arignar Anna and Kamaraj.
— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) December 6, 2016
#jayalalithaa Her poes garden house must be preserved as a memorial
— Nanditha Krishna (@nankrishna) December 8, 2016