Amidst much speculation on her political future, Expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala or Chinnamma, as she is fondly called, returned to Tamil Nadu on Monday, after completing a four-year jail term in a Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case. She had also undergone treatment after testing positive for COVID-19.
She was accorded a grand welcome by her supporters. Considered a close aide of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, 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 she change the narrative this election season, is the big question.
She crossed into Tamil Nadu at Athipalli in Krishnagiri district, a border district with Karnataka, in the morning at around 10 am. As soon as her car crossed the border, her supporters broke into celebrations, showering flower petals on her 200 car strong convoy and dancing with gaiety.
She left a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru and was accompanied by her nephew and general secretary of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, T T V Dhinakaran. What set the conflict alerts was the AIADMK flag that flew over the bonnet of her car. A clear sign of disregard for the ruling Tamil Nadu party’s warning against its use by non-members.
The AIADMK had recently petitioned the Tamil Nadu police seeking restraining orders for ‘non-members’ of the party to use the flag. This came close on heels after Sasikala first sported the flag on her car, after leaving a Bengaluru hospital on January 31.
Also Read: AIADMK Files Complaint Against Sasikala For Using Party Flag
This was shot down by Dhinakaran, who in his defence said that she was still AIADMK general secretary, as petitions were pending in court over her ‘expulsion’.
But as of now, Sasikala’s vast popularity still flows in her favour. The district of Krishnagiri in western Tamil Nadu was dressed with banners, flex boards, posters and hoardings welcoming her.
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. This continued till Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016.
Sasikala and upcoming TN assembly polls
The big question, post her release, is how Tamil Nadu’s political narrative could now change.
Sasikala’s close confidante, 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.