Jayalalithaa's house 'Veda Nilayam' set to become memorial

Veda Nilayam, the sprawling bungalow located at the upscale Poes Garden area here where J Jayalalithaa stayed for over three decades, is set to become a memorial

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palanisamy's announcement on Thursday to this effect has been welcomed by those who had taken exception to Jayalalithaa's close aide VK Sasikala's decision to stay put there.The bungalow was occupied by Jayalalithaa till her hospitalisation in September last year along with Sasikala.Prior to Jayalalithaa's burial, her body was brought from the hospital to the Poes Garden residence and kept there briefly before being taken to the Rajaji Hall for public homage.

Sasikala, who took over the party reins after the death of Jayalalithaa in December last year, continued to live there amid murmurs of protest by sections of her partymen.

Though the bungalow, which now remains unoccupied and maintained by a few staff, was thrown open to the public for a while earlier this year, later it has been virtually made out of bounds for the people.Recently, the house had witnessed a bitter family quarrel during the visit of Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa and nephew Deepak.Deepa had then alleged that she came there at the invitation of Deepak, but was 'assaulted' there.

As soon as Palanisamy announced in a press conference that Veda Nilayam would be converted into a memorial, security personnel were deployed in large numbers there.