The AIADMK cadre has been taken aback by statements being issued by V K Sasikala, former temporary general secretary of the party and close aide to late J Jayalalithaa.
Most days, the cadre as well as the media receive signed statements from Sasikala who describes herself as general secretary of the party, though she has been eased out pf the post as well as the AIADMK in September 2017 by Edappadi Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam, former chief ministers.
Sasikala’s statements issued on the letter head of AIADMK that features the pictures of C N Annadurai, M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa has the artistically carved signature of Sasikala, who is described as Puratchi Thai Chinnamma. But the statement has no telephone number or mail id. It says the statement issued from her Habibullah Road, T Nagar, Chennai, camp office making her the only top office bearer who cannot enter the head quarters of the party!
Though former Chief Ministers Edappadi Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam are said to be not in the best of terms, there are no strong indications of OPS making any positive gestures to Sasikala.
“Sasikala has no relevance in Tamil Nadu politics as on today. The major issue is the failure of the Stalin-led DMK Government in taking steps to prevent the floods that battered Chennai and surrounding areas last week,” said Kolahala Srenivaas, chief editor, Kolahala TV, who is a respected political commentator.
He said Sasikala’s roadshows are all stage managed ones to woo the party cadre. “She is out of touch with reality and the cadre would not trust her at all,” said Srenivaas.
Though there were reports in a section of the media that Sasikala is likely to hijack the AIADMK, such reports have vanished over the last few weeks. “Even vernacular media that predicted that she would play spoilsport for the AIADMK has started ignoring her statements,” Srenivaas pointed out.
Doraiswamy Raveendran, Tamil Nadu’s most sought after commentator is also of the view that Sasikala’s efforts to make a split in the AIADMK would not succeed. “She has a good stature as an aide to Jayalalithaa. But that alone does not qualify her as a leader of the party or the State. Palaniswami and Panneerselvam would sail together and lead the AAIADMK. But there is no space for Sasikala in AIADMK politics as on today,” said Raveendran.