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AIADMK Crisis
Senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar on Monday said VK Sasikala, confidante of late party matriarch J Jayalalithaa has already been 'given exit' and ruled out the scope for her re-entry. Jayakumar, a former state minister, dismissed her accusation of caste politics against the party as 'cheap propaganda' and said it will not have any impact. Speaking to reporters, Jayakumar, when asked about Sasikala's assertion, recalled her taking a stand in 2021 of 'staying away from politics.' Also, he recalled her expulsion, along with her relatives from the party in 2011 when Jayalalithaa was the party chief. About a decade ago, only Sasikala (not her relatives) was readmitted into the party by Jayalalithaa after she tendered a letter of regret. "What did she say in 2021? she said she will stay away from politics." Furthermore, Jayakumar said: "She is not a member of AIADMK. She has nothing to do with the party and she says she has made an entry. You (Sasikala) have already been given the exit an
The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu stands to electorally gain to a significant extent and the BJP, though now on the fringes, could aspire to get more electoral space in the wake of churning in the AIADMK. Although a huge chunk of party workers and office-bearers are apparently with the dominant leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, ousted figurehead O Panneerselvam does have a clout among sections of party workers in select regions of Tamil Nadu. At the same time V K Sasikala, confidante of late party matriarch J Jayalalithaa is staking claim to the late leader's legacy. Dramatically, she declared that both Panneerselvam and Palaniswami were mere 'shadows' while she is the 'truth', meaning she is the real leader. Her remark comes following the expulsion of Panneerselvam and the violence witnessed in the AIADMK headquarters. Narrating an anecdote to her supporters in Pudukottai District, she in a veiled manner hit out at both of them and said party workers rallied only behind her. Apparently, ..