Chennai: VK Sasikala, former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa's close aide and the expelled chief of the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), announced her retirement from public life and politics. Sasikala, who was released from jail in January, was widely expected to contest the upcoming assembly elections.
Sasikala said in a statement, "I have never been after power or position even when Jaya (J Jayalalithaa) was alive. Won't do that after she is dead. (I am) quitting politics but I pray that her party wins, and her legacy goes on." Sasikala - who spent four years in a Bengaluru jail on corruption charges - said.
Sasikala said in the statement, "I urge supporters of AIADMK to all work together and defeat the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the primary opposition)." She added, "I urge the party cadre to work to keep her legacy going." After Jayalalithaa's demise in December 2016, Sasikala had stepped in as AIADMK chief. However, she was sentenced to a four-year jail term for corruption.
Before being jailed, she had picked Edappadi K Palaniswami to take over as CM. However, Palaniswami colluded with O Panneerselvam, removing her from the post and the party. A month after her release, she filed an application in a Chennai court against Palaniswami and Panneerselvam to stake a claim for the AIADMK top post.
Her return had stirred the AIADMK, which never quite recovered from the power vacuum after the demise of Jayalalithaa, who was lovingly known as 'Amma' (mother). Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 6 across 88,936 polling stations. The term of 234-seat state Legislative Assembly ends on May 24, 2021.
While Sasikala’s seemingly shocking decision is expected to help the ruling AIADMK, it has come as a jolt to her nephew TTV Dhinakaran, whose party Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) is contesting this election. It has also come as a shocker for DMK which was expecting votes to split between AMMK and AIADMK.
