Crusade against one family will continue, will take back the party : O Paneeerselvam

"Today the Government and the party is in the hands of one family.Our biggest challenge is 'dharma yudham' (crusade). We will take back the party from the hands of the family, who Jayalalithaa threw out of Poes Garden," media reports quoted Paneerselvam as saying.

Paneerselvam, who was the most trusted aide of J Jayalalithaa, said the late Chief Minister was the one who helped increase the party membership from 14 lakh to 1.5 crore.

"She faced many troubles after MGR.'s death. Jayalalithaa was clear that there will be no family politics in the AIADMK," he said.

Paneerselvam also reiterated the demand for a probe into Jayalalithaa's death, saying people have questions about it. 

"Questions about Jayalalithaa's death was in everyone's minds. People ask about the mystery surrounding her death. The Centre and the State government should probe her death," he said.

In the internal politics of the AIADMK, Paneerselvam is the arch rival of party's jailed General Secretary Sasikala and her protege E Palaniswamy the present Chief Minister.

Both the Sasikala and OPS factions on Friday made elaborate arrangements separately to celebrate the 69th birth anniversary of Jayalalithaa, "Amma" as she was known to the party ranks, in the continuing battle for laying claim on the late party matriarch's legacy.