VK Sasikala addressed AIADMK lawmakers twice at a resort near Chennai on Sunday.
Highlights
- Supreme Court set to announce verdict in disproportionate assets case
- If convicted, Sasikala cannot contest elections for six years
- Amma and I have been to jail, returned and captured power, says Sasikala
Anticipating a court verdict that could scupper her plans to become Chief Minister Of Tamil Nadu, VK Sasikala declared to lawmakers last night, "I have spent time in jails...I am ready to spend more time in any jail." In two visits to a resort near Chennai where ruling AIADMK lawmakers have been "hidden away" since Chief Minister O Panneerselvam emerged as a threat to her plans, Ms Sasikala also shared what she claimed were the last words of J Jayalalithaa, who died in December.
"Amma told me, no one can destroy the party," said the 61-year-old long-time friend of Ms Jayalalithaa, dabbing her eyes frequently with a handkerchief.
The Supreme Court is expected to announce any day this week its decision on whether Ms Sasikala is guilty, along with former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, of amassing a fortune far beyond her known sources of income. If convicted, she cannot contest elections for six years.
"Amma and I have both seen jails in Chennai and Bengaluru. We've also come back and captured power. So don't underestimate the power of a common woman, we can do anything," Ms Sasikala told lawmakers, calling herself a "lion cub" mentored by "lioness" Jayalalithaa.
Earlier in the day, she had commented that it was "very difficult" to be a woman in politics.
Ms Sasikala, chosen by the ruling AIADMK to take over as Chief Minister from O Panneerselvam on February 5, was hoping to be sworn in by now but Governor C Vidyasagar Rao has indicated that he would rather wait for the court verdict.
The delay has proved nerve-wracking for Ms Sasikala, who had reckoned without Mr Panneerselvam - for years the silent loyalist of Ms Jayalalithaa or "Amma" - going rogue.
Since his rebellion on Tuesday, when he declared that he was forced to quit, Mr Panneerselvam has won the support of over a dozen lawmakers of parliament as well as the assembly. His supporters are banking on winning over enough state lawmakers to scuttle Ms Sasikala's bid; she needs at least 118 lawmakers in the 234-member assembly.