Sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment in a Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets case, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s close aide has finally been released from Parappana Agrahara Prison in Bengaluru. She is however undergoing treatment in a local hospital for COVID-19.
Sasikala’s release comes at a time when Tamil Nadu is gearing up for assembly elections in a few months. Expelled from the party by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami-led faction, will Sasikala change the narrative this election season is the big question.
Let’s take a closer look at the Sasikala factor and how her close association with Jayalaithaa for over three decades may change the face of Tamil Nadu politics going forward.
Who is V K Sasikala?
Hailing from the small town of Mannargudi in Thanjavur, Sasikala was introduced to Jayalalithaa in 1984. Incidentally, that was the very year Jayalalithaa joined AIADMK.
While Sasikala, who had become close to Jayalalithaa, was running a video cassette business at that time, her husband Natarajan’s Public Relations skills came in handy for Jaya. The couple then shifted base to Jayalithaa’s residence in late 1980s and post MGR’s demise when Jayalalithaa was subjected to multiple trials and tribulations in her political life, Sasikala cemented her position further by playing the role of the kingmaker.
Even her her husband Natarajan was told to leave Jayalalithaa camp in 1990, Sasikala chose to stay back with Jayalalithaa without him. Until Jaya’s death in December 2016, she lived at Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence all through except for about four months in between when some differences emerged between them.
What was Sasikala’s role when Jayalalithaa was alive?
A close aide of the late Chief Minister for over three decades, Sasikala has always been behind the scenes as Jayalalithaa scripted one victory after the other. She was never seen addressing public rallies or never contested polls.
But insiders say that it was Sasikala who played a pivotal role when it came to giving shape to poll related negotiations and seat-sharing talks with allies and even had a firm say in crucial appointments and key government decisions.
While Jayalaithaa continues to be hero worshipped by her followers even today, Sasikala has been painted the villain time and again. Corruption charges, links with the mafia, questionable past of her tainted relatives played a collective role in her villain-like projection.
Some even put her under the scanner for her role in Jayalaithaa’s death.
The big question now being asked in political circles as to whether Sasikala’s release will alter the political narrative in the southern state where BJP is working hard to make inroads.
Sasikala’s close confidante Edappadi K Palaniswami turned his back on her and joined hands with O Panneerselvam and sacked her from AIADMK in spite of the fact that it was Sasikala who had made Panneerselvam the Chief Minister.
Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran floated a rebel outfit and managed to outsmart AIADMK and DMK and it remains to be seen as to whether the outfit merges with parent AIADMK. But with Palaniswami at the helm of affairs in AIADMK, he may pose a challenge to the merger knowing full well that the party reins once again will pass on to Sasikala if the merger happens. The BJP meanwhile is looking to forge an alliance with AIADMK.