Sasikala’s return to TN ruffles feathers
The return of expelled All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary VK Sasikala, who was released from a Bengaluru prison last month after serving a four-year jail sentence in a disproportionate assets case, to Chennai on Tuesday appears to have infused a sense of unease in Tamil Nadu’s ruling party. Party leaders have insisted on retaining a dual leadership (of chief minister E Palaniswami and his deputy O Paneerselvam), but there is a section, comprising the state’s southern block and the Thevar community that Sasikala belongs to, which believes the AIADMK would lose out on those votes if she is kept out. Another narrative building in the AIADMK is that public sentiment is against Sasikala. “We had celebrated you as Chinamma after Amma (J Jayalalithaa), but the people didn’t accept you,” AIADMK spokesperson Vaigaichelvan said at a rally on Tuesday.
The return to Chennai on Tuesday of expelled All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader VK Sasikala, who was released from a Bengaluru prison last month after serving a four-year jail sentence in a disproportionate assets case, appears to have infused unease in Tamil Nadu’s ruling party.
Party leaders have insisted on retaining a dual leadership (of chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami and his deputy O Paneerselvam), but a section, comprising the state’s southern block and the Thevar community that Sasikala belongs to, believes the AIADMK would lose out on votes if she is kept out.
There is also criticism within the party of the way Palaniswami and Paneerselvam dealt with the return of Sasikala, who was a close aide to late party supremo and chief minister J Jayalalithaa.
Party leaders complained to the police about her use of an AIADMK flag on her car, and blocked access to a memorial to Jayalalithaa. “We should have just ignored her,” said a party leader on condition of anonymity. “Going to the police, closing the memorial ended up giving her unnecessary attention.”
Sasikala arrived in Chennai after a 23-hour road trip from Bengaluru during which she was greeted by large crowds. After her release from prison, she contracted Covid-19 and needed hospitalisation in the city.
Another narrative building in the AIADMK ahead of the assembly elections is that public sentiment is against Sasikala. “We had celebrated you as Chinamma after Amma, but the people didn’t accept you,”
AIADMK spokesperson Vaigaichelvan, who goes by a single name, said in a speech in Sivaganga district on Tuesday.
Palaniswami on Tuesday campaigned in Ranipet, where he attacked opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief MK Stalin, but didn’t say anything on Sasikala. He has in the past ruled out her return to the party.
Resurfacing of divisions within the AIADMK, in which Palaniswami and Paneerselvam have buried their factional rivalries, over Sasikala’s return could works to the advantage of the DMK, which is in an alliance with the Congress, having been out of power since 2011.
“Sasikala isn’t a charismatic leader to make an impact,” said political analyst TN Gopalan. “There is a possibility she may capture the party if it’s wiped out in the elections, but then the bigger question would be what is left of the party if it loses?”
On Tuesday, Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran, who started Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam in 2018 with the support of several Sasikala sympathizers, reiterated that Sasikala would continue her legal battle to reclaim the AIADMK.
“If AIADMK and AMMK issue could be resolved, it may have been smooth but they are at each other throats...,” a BJP leader said on condition of anonymity.