Sasikala Announces New Political Party with Blistering Attack on AIADMK Leadership
In a dramatic return to active politics, expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala launched a new political party on Tuesday, marking the occasion with a scathing verbal assault on AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami. Speaking at a public meeting in Kamuthi, Ramanathapuram district, organized to commemorate the 78th birth anniversary of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, Sasikala labeled EPS a betrayer without directly naming him.
"He Is Not Worth It": Sasikala's Fiery Condemnation
"I made him the Chief Minister. But he expelled me like throwing away a piece of paper. Imagine what kind of a person would do that," Sasikala declared to the gathered crowd. "I don't want to utter his name. He is not worth it," she added, in her first detailed public account of events following Jayalalithaa's death. This marked a significant escalation in the long-simmering feud within Tamil Nadu's political landscape.
Allegations of Persecution and Betrayal
Sasikala made several serious allegations against the AIADMK leadership:
- She claimed her parole duration was reduced to just five days when her husband died due to pressure from the then AIADMK government while she was imprisoned.
- She alleged there were plans to arrest her immediately upon her release from jail.
- "People who were brought to power by me had stabbed me in the front and back," she stated, accusing EPS of being unconcerned about the party and its cadres despite AIADMK suffering defeat in ten consecutive elections.
Recounting the Post-Jayalalithaa Power Struggle
Sasikala provided her version of the chaotic period following Jayalalithaa's demise:
- Ministers initially urged her to become chief minister, but she declined due to grief, leading to O Panneerselvam's appointment.
- Later, AIADMK leaders complained against OPS and asked her to become general secretary and eventually chief minister.
- Her political ambitions were thwarted when she was sentenced in the disproportionate assets case.
"I think I made a good decision to stay in Bengaluru prison. If I had decided to shift to prison in Chennai, I don't know if I would be standing in front of you today," she said, indirectly hinting at threats to her life.
The New Political Venture
Sasikala revealed she had ensured the government's survival by backing EPS as chief minister before going to prison, only to be betrayed afterward. She announced her new political party with the stated mission to "uproot enemies and traitors" and "bring back the government" of AIADMK icons M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa.
The party flag was unveiled featuring red, white, and black horizontal strips with images of MGR, Jayalalithaa, and C N Annadurai. Sasikala stated the party name would be announced at a later date, signaling a direct challenge to the existing AIADMK leadership.
Political Ripples and Family Friction
The announcement immediately created political waves, revealing friction between Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran, founder of the AMMK party. "We will not be affected by new parties that spring up like instant idly and sambar," Dhinakaran told reporters, dismissing the potential impact of his aunt's new political venture.
This development sets the stage for a multi-cornered political contest in Tamil Nadu, with Sasikala positioning herself as the true inheritor of the AIADMK legacy while directly confronting both the current AIADMK leadership and her own political relatives.
