A video clip, showing Jayalalithaa in the hospital, was released by a staunch loyalist of V K Sasikala's nephew T T V Dhinakaran, P Vetrivel, on Wednesday, triggering controversy as it came on the eve of the R K Nagar by-election.
The 20-second video, which was circulated on social media, shows Jayalalithaa in hospital clothes drinking something.
The video comes at a time when the one-man inquiry commission, headed by retired high court Judge Arumugasamy, began investigation into the circumstances that led to Jayalalithaa's death.
Vetrivel, an AIADMK MLA, claimed the video was shot by Sasikala after the former chief minister was shifted to the ward from the ICU.
Vetrivel also claimed that more videos of Jayalalithaa during her treatment are in Dhinakaran's possession.
Meanwhile, major political parties including the ruling AIADMK and opposition DMK termed the release of the video politically motivated, with an "ulterior motive", keeping Thursday's bypoll in mind.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks