AIADMK factions bury hatchet, banish Sasikala and nephew
new delhi — On Wednesday, the curtain seems to fall — at least temporarily — on the colourful act of Tamil Nadu’s V. K. Sasikala, once the late Jayalalithaa’s confidante and, after her death, the self-styled champion of her legacy.
As the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) sacked Sasikala and her nephew Dinakaran from the party, the week’s developments in Tamil Nadu (TN) seemed too much to handle even for one of the most resourceful and tenacious of South India’s political personalities.
On December 6, when Jayalalithaa, the then chief minister of Tamil Nadu and the then president of the AIADMK, passed away following an illness, O. Panneerselvam had headed her government.
Then, Jayalalitha lieutenant, V. K. Sasikala got into the act. She almost became CM, but for the fact that a court found her guilty on the eve of her swearing-in and sentenced her to a four-year jail term on a case of wealth amassed in disproportion to her income.
In Tamil Nadu, politics often is as dramatic as the masala movies the state specialises in. That TN politics has been for long dominated by superstars, directors and script writers is perhaps partly the explanation. The other part is the mercurial nature of TN politics itself. This week, it was clear that Tamil Nadu was bracing for yet another dramatic turn.
Before Sasikala went into jail, she had sidelined Panneerselvam and appointed her man, E. Palaniswami, as the chief minister. Just to be sure her instructions in absentia were carried out, she had installed her nephew, T. Dinakaran, as her deputy in the party.
Now, Panneerselvam set up his own camp in opposition to Sasikala and Palaniswami. The AIADMK party symbol of Two Leaves then became a court matter, and the court in its turn froze Two Leaves, which meant neither faction could make use of it in their propaganda.
Meanwhile, Sasikala was running the party from her jail cell. This week, that changed. Sasikala had issued instructions to her protege, Palaniswamy, on the posting of several key bureaucrats. The chief minister sat on the decision.
Sasikala also wanted Palaniswamy to conduct an inquiry into charges of corruption against Panneerselvam. Palaniswamy sat on that one too. This enraged Sasikala.
Dinakaran, Sasikala’s emissary at large, suddenly found that the two opposing camps were coming together. He discovered, contrary to his initial understanding, he was the odd man out, not Panneerselvam.
He dutifully informed his aunt. But with the chief minister turning coat, there was not much Sasikala could do from inside her cell.
The man who brokered peace between the two warring factions of the party is D. Jayakumar. He is the finance minister of the state. Sources said, well wishers of Panneerselvam had approached Jayakumar for a truce.
That initiative seemed to bear fruit as of Wednesday. “The factions will merge,” Jayakumar said. “The party will stand together and we will do everything possible so the party does not fall into the hands of Sasikala and her family. This is the only way to take care of the legacy of Amma ( Jayalalitha).”
Nevertheless, Dinakaran and his supporters have been doing the rounds. As in most Indian states, horse trading and lobbying are crucially dependent on cash. And the Sasikala clan has deep pockets. So the last word in this drama is yet to be spoken.
“We have been stabbed in the back,” Dinakaran said.
Although Dinakaran did not mention any specific name, in all probability he was referring to Palaniswamy. “The fight is far from over,” he said. “We are the true loyalists of Amma. We would be the happiest if the party came together to realize her dreams.”
But the former chief minister,
I have initiated talks with the Panneerselvam camp. We all want to continue the legacy of the late Amma and at the same time want to save the party’s symbol of two leaves. So in this largest interest, I think both factions should come together M Thambidurai, senior AIADMK leader
The party will stand together and we will do everything possible so the party does not fall into the hands of Sasikala and her family. This is the only way to take care of the legacy of Amma (Jayalalitha). D. Jayakumar, state finance minister
Panneerselvam, said, there was no question of the factions becoming one if Sasikala and her nephew were to be reinstated as part of the proceedings. “They wrecked the party to their selfish ends,” he said, “they must stay out if the party wants to get its act together.