‘Time to unite’: Sasikala pays tribute to AIADMK founder MGR at Ramavaram

This comes as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is celebrating its 50th anniversary with pomp in Chennai.

Speaking on the occasion, Sasikala said, “Now is the time to unite for the welfare of the party and the people.”

He also hoisted the party flag and distributed sweets outside the MGR memorial in Thyagaraya Nagar.

The expelled leader had on Saturday paid tributes at the tomb of former party supremo J Jayalalithaa and signaled a political return.

Sasikala had said that she ‘unloaded’ herself on Amma, a ‘burden’ of her heart, which remained for almost five years after Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016.

“I have relieved myself (at Jayalalithaa’s tomb),” he said after paying tribute.

He paid floral tributes at the tomb of MGR and Dravidian icon CN Annadurai and offered prayers at a temple.

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.”

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.

However, news agency PTI quoted political commentator Sumant Raman as saying that his visit could be a formal way to announce a gradual return to politics. “Now, it looks like she wants to make a political comeback. But I don’t know how successful it will be.”

Meanwhile, the AIADMK began a year-long celebration on Sunday to mark the golden jubilee of its founding.

AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and deputy coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami had issued a joint statement on Friday announcing that the party headquarters of AIADMK at Royapettah would be renamed as ‘MGR Maligai’ to mark the occasion.

Party workers thronged the headquarters decorated with flowers and garlands. Big posters and banners of MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa were put up.

AIADMK was formed on 17 October 1972.