The engrossing ‘Sasikala episode’ in the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu turned a full circle on Saturday, with the party’s chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha revoking the expulsion against her former aide and confidante.
The decks have been thus cleared for Sasikala’s formal return to Poes Garden here, the official residence of the chief minister, after the former on Wednesday declared she had snapped all ties with her close relatives and friends who had “betrayed Amma”.
Sasikala, who’s now facing interrogation in the disproportionate asset case in a special court in Bangalore, had not just disowned her close kin after what she claimed she had “realised” how they misused her name and proximity to Amma to even conspire against the leader. She also stated that she doesn’t nurture any political ambitions. “I want to resume my services to my ‘Akka’ (elder sister)”, she added.
Though Sasikala’s statement had caused a sudden sensation in political circles here, it was not entirely unexpected since her expulsion from the party on December 19 last year. Later, Sasikala moved out of Poes Garden to stay with one of her close relatives in the city. Referring to a letter Sasikala had written to her explaining all the details, Jayalalitha in a statement here on Saturday, said that she is accepting her explanation and disciplinary action against Sasikala stands revoked.
No relief for relatives
However, Jayalalitha made it clear that barring Sasikala, her December 19 disciplinary action against her relatives including the latter’s husband M Natarajan would continue.
The re-induction of Sasikala into the AIADMK sans her relatives, has evoked mixed response from party circles here. Many party cadres faced the dilemma of having to reconcile Amma’s 28-year-old friendship with Sasikala and the need for Jayalalitha to have a trusted aide by her side at home. Further, the reconciliation between the chief minister and Sasikala has renewed fears of latter striking back to regain control over the party machinery again. “We can understand Sasikala trying to renew her friendship with Amma, but the former should not again go back to her old ways and bring discredit to the party,” a worried AIADMK source told DHNS.
With Sasikala belonging to the powerful OBC ‘Mukkulathor (Thevar)’ community, sources said that they would continue to see the former as a “symbol of their community interests” within the AIADMK.
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