Sasikala set for political innings

Chennai, December 10 

Jayalalithaa’s longtime aide Sasikala appears all set to take over the mantle of AIADMK general secretary with senior party leaders and state ministers urging her to assume the post, asserting that she alone will now be able to lead the party.

A plea urging her to step into the shoes of Jayalalithaa was made by a delegation of leaders, including AIADMK presidium chairman E Madhusudanan and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Thambidurai, when they called on Sasikala or ‘Chinnamma’ as she is referred to by party workers at the Poes Garden residence of the late chief minister.

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“After Amma, it is only Chinnamma. Chinnamma follows in Amma’s footsteps,” said Thambidurai, whose name was doing the rounds for the post, adding that he told Sasikala that the party and welfare of the people was in her hands. “We told her that we are with you,” he said.

“This is a people’s party. It was Puratchi Thalaivi Amma who functioned understanding the people’s pulse. Chinnamma follows in her footsteps. Hence, leaving no scope for a void, Chinnamma should immediately assume the position of party general secretary,” he said, adding he was confident that she would accept the request. He said the party is of the “unanimous” opinion that it was Sasikala who should lead the party. Sasikala, 60, has been a close aide of Jayalalithaa for three decades and has always been seen as a power centre in the party. Thambidurai asserted that there are no two opinions in this regard and all party workers, district secretaries, MPs and MLAs were one on the issue.

He said like Jayalalithaa who fought for the state’s rights and people’s welfare, it is “Chinnamma” who had the “strength and ability” to work for welfare of the people, the state and the party. — PTI