Sasi’s return: Mixed reactions from AIADMK

Chennai

Though BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao, who oversees Tamil Nadu politics, has denied any effort by his party for the merger of sulking AIADMK factions, the issue on Friday resurfaced with the two AIADMK ministers contrasting with each other on their views related to Sasikala dubbed as “Chinamma”.

Adding to the speculation, Nagapattinam AIADMK district secretary and textiles minister O S Manian on Friday said that the party leadership would decide on who will lead the AIADMK after the release of V K Sasikala convicted in a disproportionate assets case along with former CM J Jayalalithaa.

“The question has to be posed to the party leadership. I am an ordinary district secretary,” Manian said when asked to comment in detail about his views. Manian’s reply came during a media interaction during a foundation stone laying function of a new government school building in Nagapattinam.

Sasikala convicted for four years on February 14, 2017, has completed more than 90 per cent of her jail term.

However, AIADMK senior and fisheries minister D Jayakumar, known for his anti-Sasikala stand responded within a few hours stating that there was no room for Sasikala or her family into AIADMK. The party’s stand is clear, AMMK functionaries can return to the parent AIADMK but not the Sasikala family members, Jayakumar asserted repeating his earlier stand. When reporters sought his comments on Manian’s comment, “I don’t want to comment further,” Jayakumar quipped.

According to AMMK sources, the talks have already begun among the AIADMK legislators about the political developments that would happen on the arrival of V K Sasikala from jail.

“AMMK is expecting the release of its leader on or before November. Sasikala’s counsel Raja Senthur Pandian is ready with the formality papers that must be submitted, but there is no communication from the Parapana Agrahara prison due to the COVID lockdown,” a senior AMMK functionary said and added that ministers like O S Manian, R B Udayakumar, C Vijayabhaskar and Rajenthira Bhalaji are known for their loyalty towards Chinnamma would play a crucial role when Sasikala comes out after completing her jail term.

To oppose the formidable DMK during next year elections, the AIADMK needs strong leaders like TTV Dhinakaran and Sasikala, the functionary claimed.