Jayalalithaa aide V K Sasikala has to pull a rabbit out of her hat

V K Sasikala — friend of former Tamil Nadu chief minister, the late J Jayalalithaa, and from all accounts an important influence on the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) — is out of jail. She cannot contest this round of the assembly election or the next Lok Sabha election, on account of her conviction and subsequent imprisonment. But nothing stops her from being a behind-the-scenes actor and influencer of politics and political events. There is a lot of speculation about her future role.

Then there are those who ask: Okay, she’s out of jail. But does it even