Please lead us: Senior AIADMK functionaries urge Sasikala

Sasikala has stood with the party and Jayalalithaa during tough times, say leaders

Senior party members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) met VK Sasikala, a close aide of late chief minister and the former AIADMK's general secretary J Jayalalithaa, and requested her to take charge of the party as the general secretary. 

She has not replied to the request yet.

Sasikala, who has been known as "Chinnamma" in the party circle, has been rumoured to take over the leadership after the demise of Jayalalithaa, who was referred as 'Amma', though the party did not come out with its stand so far (didn't understand what he meant by this). Senior functionaries including AIADMK presidium Chairman E Madhusudhanan, Minister Valarmathi and Sengottaiyan have met Sasikala in Poes Garden, Jayalalithaa's house, with the request.

"Yes, we have met Chinnamma today and requested to take over as the leader of AIADMK. She has been with Amma during her difficult times as a support and she knows what Amma wanted to do in the party," said CR Saraswathy, party spokesperson. "We expect Chinnamma to accept our request," she added.

"Senior functionaries of AIADMK urge Thirumathi Sasikala to lead the party on the path shown by Puratchi Thalaivi (revenlutionary leader) Amma," said AIADMK's official twitter account. The party members also added that this would bring an end to the rumours about the new general secretary of the party.

However, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam was not present in the team which visited Sasikala, according to sources.

Sasikala, a former video shop owner, has been the close contact of Jayalalithaa for several years now and has been living in Veda Nilayam, the residence of Jayalalithaa. Along with Jayalalithaa, she was sentenced by a Special Court in Bengaluru in the alleged disproportionate asset case. She also ran a few companies in partnership with Jayalalithaa, alleges the investigators.

Earlier in the day, party spokesperson C Ponnaiyan said that there is no rift in the party over the general secretary post. Whosoever is  blessed by late party supermo J Jayalalithaa and the party cadres will be the hold the post, he added.

Responding to questions on rumours about the party meeting on Saturday, he said reports of infighting among top party leaders for the post after Jayalailthaa's death were just baseless rumours, and that the names floating around in connection with the post were being spread unnecessarily through the media. 

"We are not divided over the post of general secretary," he said.

Ponnayan parried questions about what was discussed, but said Sasikala was an important person in the party and had been with Jayalalithaa for many years.