Sasikala’s name, pictures nowhere in RK Nagar

Though the group might choose to dismiss it as media exaggeration or malicious campaign of the Opposition, it was not easy to discern a design in the ruling party’s strategy. Even party insiders confide under condition of anonymity that they did not expect the situation on field to be so hostile and hence, it would be electorally beneficial not to invoke their general secretary’s name for the time being. However, not all observers agree with the apprehensive AIADMK(Amma) cadre. 

Political commentator Ravindran Doraisamy said, “It is a wrong ploy. By avoiding their general secretary’s name, the party is literally admitting that their leader does not enjoy the support of the people. They would also be playing in to the hands of the splinter group led by O Panneerselvam who stands to benefit from Dinakaran’s conscious avoidance of Sasikala’s name.” 

He added, “Irrespective of the electoral benefits it brings, Dinakaran should project Sasikala as the leader who united the party and on whose feet OPS prostrated after Jayalalithaa’s death, if they are to succeed politically, mainly in wresting absolute control of the party.” 

A closer observation would reveal that the sudden blacking out of Sasikala’s name also has something to do with their style of politicking – operating the corridors of power from behind, said a Dravidian scholar and political commentator VMS Subagunarajan. 

He said, “No doubt AIADMK (Amma) does not want to promote brand Sasikala now. Incumbent bosses of the party have been operating within the power structure. Their MLAs are interested groups who support them so that they could remain in power for four more years. Power politics ends there. Apart from cadre, every party needs the support of sympathisers to win elections. Majority of the party sympathisers do not back Sasikala. Dinakaran and company might have understood the reality after going on the field.”