Ahead of TN polls, expelled AIADMK leader joins BJP

Vibha Sharma

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 9

Rajya Sabha MP from Tamil Nadu Sasikala Pushpa Ramaswamy, who was expelled from the AIADMK in 2016, today joined the ruling BJP ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections next year. Inducting Sasikala into the party, general secretary P Muralidhar Rao described her as a “very aggressive, vocal leader in Tamil Nadu” while former Minister of State Radhakrishnan said her presence will strengthen the party in the southern state

Sasikala’s tenure as the Rajya Sabha MP has been quite eventful. She was involved in an altercation with a DMK MP in 2016 and was accused of slapping him following which the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa expelled her from the party. After Jayalalithaa’s death Sasikala raised questions about “secrecy” maintained by the state government during her treatment and even stood holding a placard expressing her fears in the House.

The BJP’s decision to induct Sasikala is a part of its efforts to strengthen base in the state ahead of 2021 Assembly polls. Its attempts to make forays in the southern state with the ruling AIADMK were hardly successful with the combine winning just 18.48 per cent of the vote share. The 2021 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are expected to be an interesting one with the DMK and the Congress and superstar Rajinikanth expressing willingness to join hands with contemporary and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan politically.

Rao said Sasikala’s presence would add to the party’s capacity to fight in the state. “The saffron strength is gaining in strength day by day, our membership and penetration have increased and the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is growing the party’s spread. A number of leaders from other parties have joined the BJP, expressing willingness to strengthen it under the leadership of Modi. We have an ideological and political fight with the DMK and the Congress. Even in Delhi, Tamil people are supporting the BJP,” Rao said.