Sasikala takes charge
Chennai: Amid chants of “Chinnamma Vazhagai”, V.K. Sasikala on Saturday took charge as AIADMK general secretary, the top party post, and pledged to take forward the legacy of Jayalalithaa, saying her “political lessons” will be followed like the Vedas. “Amma is always in my heart,” an emotionally charged Sasikala said after assuming charge, adding the AIADMK will continue to rule Tamil Nadu for many years.
Asserting that the AIADMK would continue to follow the same military discipline shown during the tenure of its former leader J. Jayalalithaa, new general secretary V.K. Sasikala on Saturday said her party would remain an army which could defeat any opponent.
In an indirect attack on her opponents, Sasikala said some cunning minds calculated that the AIADMK could be destroyed after Jayalalithaa’s death. Citing a song from MGR’s ‘Naalai Namadhey’, Sasikala asserted that the party would stand united and move on the righteous path shown by the party founder.
In a speech laced with sentiment and emotion, Sasikala, who took over as the AIADMK general secretary, outlined the party’s course in future and said the AIADMK would follow the self respect ideals of DK founder E.V.R. Periyar, self respect of the Tamil race preached by C.N. Annadurai, softness of party founder MGR and boldness of Amma.
She said the centenary of MGR’s birth anniversary would be celebrated in a grand manner and urged the Centre to issue special stamps and coins to commemorate the occasion.
In an emotional speech for about half an hour, she said, “I am 62-yearold and I have spent my life with Amma from the age of 29. I will spent the rest of my life working for the party and its cadre”.
She said she would live up to party’s hopes and dedicate the rest of her life to work as per the Ammas guidelines.