AIADMK top brass unlikely to include Sasi

Top leaders like R Vaithilingam, C Ve Shanmugam are silent on the issue escalating suspense in the party. Interestingly, as many as ten ministers like MC Sampath. Benjamin, Vellamandi Natarajan and all the three women ministers Saroja, Rajalakshmi and Nilofar Kafeel are silent on these issues related to Sasikala.

According to AIADMK insiders, EPS has consolidated his position in the party in the past three years and 70 per cent of the district secretaries are with the EPS faction of AIADMK. Political strategisting including Sunil Kongugalu and few others are working on brand EPS and it is imminent that the AIADMK will bank on the leadership of EPS for the next assembly polls in 2021. “Most of the ministers are not openly commenting on Sasikala and they will toe the line of CM EPS and party convenor O Panneerselvam. There was dissent with the party when the 18 MLAs disqualification case was in trial, but now there will not be any major developments. CM EPS had consolidated his position in western Tamil Nadu and there are possibilities for him to avoid Sasikala and her family during the next election,” said an AIADMK MLA wishing not to be named. CM EPS has the complete backing of senior ministers like P Thangamani, K A Sengottaiyan and S P Velumani and RB Udhayakumar, the legislator added.

“No one can predict what will happen when Jayalalithaa’s aide Sasikala returns from the jail, Time alone can tell the future. But there will not be any threat to the government as all the MLAs and ministers will fall in line with CM EPS till the completion of the AIADMK government,” opined political commentator R Mani. Further, you cannot ignore Sasikala in politics and those who are ignoring her will take the risk at their own, Mani added.

The AIADMK had taken several u-turns, for instance, the OPS who once revolted and suspended from the AIADMK for revolting against EPS and Sasikala is now back in AIADMK. Similarly, the conversion of Poes Garden into a memorial is now put on hold. Like such examples the party may take a u-turn, said a senior AMMK functionary. As the matter is related to Chinnamma we have been told not to comment, but there is every possibility for the reunion when jailed leader Sasikala returns.