Senior AIADMK leaders request Sasikala to lead the party

Senior party members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) have met V K Sasikala, a close aide of late Chief Minister and former AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa, and have requested her to take charge of the party as  general secretary. She has not replied yet to the request.

Sasikala, who is known as Chinnamma in party circles, has been rumoured to be taking over the leadership after the demise of Jayalalithaa, though the party has not made its stand known. The senior functionaries, including AIADMK presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan and ministers Valarmathi and Sengottaiyan, met Sasikala in Poes Garden, the house of Jayalalithaa, with the request.

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

"Senior functionaries of the AIADMK urge Thirumathi Sasikala to lead the party on the path shown by Puratchi Thalaivi (revolutionary leader) Amma,” said the 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.

It may be noted, Sasikala has always been seen as a shadow of Jayalalithaa in major functions. However, the relationship strained a bit in 2011, when Jayalalithaa suddenly expelled her from her house, along with her relatives, and suspended her from the party. The reason for the action was not known, though rumours are that Jayalalithaa had an impression that Sasikala was involving herself in political and administrative matters along with her family. She was admitted back to the party and to Veda Nilayam after she openly apologised.

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 close to Jayalalithaa for several years now and has been living in Veda Nilayam, the residence of Jayalalithaa. She was also accused, along with Jayalalithaa, in the alleged disproportionate assets case and was sentenced by a Special Court in Bengaluru. She also ran a few companies in partnership with Jayalalithaa, the investigators alleged.

Earlier on Saturday, party spokesperson, C Ponnayan said that there was no rift in the party over the general secretary’s post. “We are united and we are not split over the post of general secretary," he said.

The names floating around for the position are of Sasikala, Sengottaiyan and M Thambidurai. Senior ministers and party members have spent considerable time at Poes Garden, where Sasikala is residing now, and held discussions.

Queried about the discussions, Ponnayan said Sasikala was an important person in the party and she had been with Jayalalithaa for many years.  On ministers spending considerable time at Poes Garden, he said, “Amma's picture has kept in the house and people keep going to pay their respects.”