On the eve of the 50th anniversary of AIADMK’s founding, Sasikala, the former chief minister’s confidant, said she ‘unloaded’ herself for Amma, her heart-burden, which she remained for nearly five years after Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016.
“I have relieved myself (at Jayalalithaa’s tomb),” he said after paying tribute.
Party founder MG Ramachandran and late supremo Jayalalithaa had won for party workers and the people of Tamil Nadu and were confident that they would “save the party and workers.”
Paying tribute, Sasikala closed her eyes and paid floral tributes at the tomb of MGR and Dravidian icon CN Annadurai and offered prayers at a temple.
Sasikala, who made a public appearance months later, was greeted by a large number of her supporters, who called “Puratchi Thai Chinnamma” (revolutionary mother, younger mother) and ‘Kazaga Kaval Thivam’ (Guardian Angel of the party) and ‘the Slogans. Tyagaga Thalaivi’ (leader of sacrifices). His supporters also met him at his T Nagar residence here and reiterated their support.
When he traveled in a car with an AIADMK flag on its bonnet, many of his supporters also waved the official flag of the main opposition party.
Senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar, on his visit promoted by his supporters, said it had no significance as he had neither the support of party workers nor the people.
He said that crores of people visit Jayalalithaa’s tomb every day and Sasikala is one of them. “No one will consider it a historical event. His visit will have no impact.”
On the use of AIADMK’s party flag, Jayakumar said his party has always opposed it and he has no moral right to use it.
“It’s also a legal violation. We can even stop him from doing that. But we don’t want to take the law into our own hands. It’s very clear, he has no place in our party. Be it tomorrow, be it today. Or tomorrow, they have no place in AIADMK.”
The AIADMK leader said Sasikala and her clan have been rejected and her attempts to control the party to create “illusion” and gain profits will remain a daydream. She said she might choose to go with the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, run by her nephew TTV Dhinakaran.
On Sasikala’s visit, political commentator Sumantha Raman told PTI, “It could be a formal way to announce a gradual return to politics. Now, it looks like she wants to make a political comeback. But not me.” Know how successful it will be.”
Jayalalithaa’s tomb was decorated with an assortment of flowers and the late leader’s words ‘Makkalal nan makkalukkagwe nan’ (I am by the people, for the people) carved on the tombstone were also decorated with the finest flowers.
Sasikala had earlier visited the samadhi in a Bengaluru jail in February 2017 just before her imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case. His visit before going to prison was debated as he patted on the tomb and it was seen by some including his supporters as taking an ‘oath’ for a successful return.
She returned to Tamil Nadu on February 8, 2021, after completing her four-year sentence. Speaking to reporters, Sasikala said everyone knows why she was visiting the samadhi after the “delay”, apparently referring to the closure of the samadhi for ‘refurbishment’ during her return and the pandemic. Was.
Spent maximum time of his life with ‘Amma’, he said, she was never far from the leader as long as she was alive.
A case filed by him, challenging the 2017 AIADMK general council resolutions, including his removal as interim general secretary, is pending in a city court.
Although she had announced ahead of the April 6 assembly elections that she would stay away from politics, in May she signaled a resumption of efforts to regain control of the AIADMK.
Audio clips of his conversations with his supporters and some AIADMK workers also surfaced, prompting AIADMK people to face action.
The AIADMK, founded on October 17, 1972, has organized events on Sundays to mark the beginning of the year-long (2021-22) celebrations to commemorate the golden jubilee of its founding, with Sasikala likely to visit the MGR memorial here . The same day and also visit the Ramapuram Udyan residence of the party founder.
This story has been published without modification in text from a wire agency feed. Only the title has been changed.
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