Expect General Council outcome by afternoon on December 29

The GC members will reach Chennai by Wednesday evening and will be escorted to the hall by the district secretaries. “The meeting is expected to end before lunch. First the resolution condoling Jayalalithaa’s demise will be read out followed by the election of the general secretary. This time only a few, very senior persons might be allowed to speak,” said party spokesperson CR Saraswathi. Asked whether VK Sasikala would be present, Saraswathi said, “Her presence will not influence the vote. She can be present as even Jayalalithaa who was ‘elected’ general secretary seven times, was always present in the GC.” Asked whether the party anticipated trouble from those opposing VK Sasikala, CR Saraswathi said, “The rank and file want Chinnamma to take over as General Secretary and everybody in the party knows this. We do not anticipate trouble as opponents, if any, will automatically keep away knowing that they are outnumbered.”