Sasikala quits politics, for now
In a significant political development, bang in the middle of an election season, V K Sasikala, aide of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, on Wednesday night announced that she is quitting politics. Only last month she had said she will take part in active politics.
The development comes against the backdrop of the BJP reportedly seeking to bring together the AIADMK and AMMK, headed by her nephew TTV Dhinakaran, for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
In a two-page statement, Sasikala reiterated her call for unity among all followers of Jayalalithaa so that the “golden rule” of MGR and Jayalalithaa could be established in Tamil Nadu for 100 more years.
“Amma’s followers must strive to ensure that the DMK, which Jayalalithaa identified as ‘evil force’ is not allowed to establish the government and Amma’s golden rule must continue in Tamil Nadu,” she said.
Thanking her supporters, she claimed she was never after power or positions and would ever remain grateful to Jayalalithaa’s supporters and the people of Tamil Nadu.
Politically, her decision could be viewed from two vantage points. One school believes that the BJP could have had a role in asking her to step aside, so that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami could be convinced to take on board the AMMK as part of the AIADMK-BJP alliance.
“The AMMK polled about 5% votes on its own in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. These votes, largely from the Mukkulathor community to which Sasikala belongs, are crucial in a close election.
Palaniswami is hesitant to tie up with the AMMK fearing that he might have to once again bow before Sasikala. Now, with her stepping aside, that possibility does not remain,” said Mani, an analyst. The BJP could not try to put more pressure on Palaniswami to strike a compromise. However, Palaniswami is not comfortable with Dhinakaran either since the latter had sought to dominate over him after Sasikala went to jail in February 2017. In fact, that is what had prompted Palaniswami to sideline Sasikala and expel Dhinakaran from the party. “Having Dhinakaran in AIADMK camp will mean he will campaign in the polls. And he is a star campaigner who could overshadow our leader,” said an AIADMK functionary. Another section feels that this was a move by Sasikala to wait for a right time to take control of party. “If you see her statement carefully, she has sought to project herself as a well-wisher of Jayalalithaa and AIADMK. She is basically seeking to earn the confidence of AIADMK cadres. Once she is in a comfortable position, she may make a re-entry into politics. Palaniswami has to be guarded in his response now,” said an observer.