Sasikala Natarajan was ex Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's closest aide
Highlights
- Sasikala Natarajan was ex Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's closest aide
- After Jayalalithaa's death, top ministers visit her at home
- Not violating democratic norms, nothing wrong with meeting her: AIADMK
Sasikala Natarajan, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's closest aide, has been urged by senior leaders of the AIADMK to lead the party, a tweet by the AIADMK said this afternoon. Sources in the party say AIADMK leaders are discussing creating a new post like Additional General Secretary for Ms Natarajan as they want Ms Jayalalithaa to remain as permanent General Secretary. Sources said the final call will be taken before the party's general council meet.
Here are the 10 latest developments in this story:
Speaking to a local news network, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneeraselvam said, "Like Amma, Chinnamma (as Sasikala is referred to by party workers) knows each and every party worker. To ensure continuance of the party's functioning... the only way out... is for Chinnamma to become the general secretary and lead the party."
The Tamil Nadu cabinet met for the first time officially on Saturday after the death of Ms Jayalalithaa. Senior ministers have been paying regular visits to Sasikala Natarajan at the palatial home she shared with Ms Jayalalithaa. In recent days, the AIADMK has praised Ms Natarajan's loyalty to Ms Jayalalithaa and her "caliber."
Ms Natarajan has exercised powers this week that suggest she may not be averse to a formal frontline role in the AIAMDK, which was thoroughly dominated by Ms Jayalalithaa. The party says it will soon pick its top decision-maker or General Secretary, a post held by Ms Jayalalithaa for 27 years.
"We will elect a capable person who takes care of the cadres and follows Amma's footsteps," said party spokesperson C Ponnaiyan. Ms Jayalalithaa was referred to as Amma or mother by her party and lakhs of supporters. She died on Monday night after a cardiac arrest. She had been in hospital in Chennai since September.
Through that period, any access to her was decided by Ms Natarajan, 54, who reportedly also took important decisions about Ms Jayalalithaa's treatment along with doctors. According to party members, she also influenced the decision to swear in the new Chief Minister, O Panneerselvam, within hours of Ms Jayalalithaa's death.
At the funeral, Ms Natarajan performed the former Chief Minister's last rites. It was she who accepted the condolences offered by VVIPs like Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The deferential attitude displayed by the new Chief Minister and his cabinet to the woman who once owned a video cassette shop has invited criticism of the AIADMK abandoning democratic processes. "There's nothing wrong in meeting an AIADMK member," said party spokesperson Ponniayan when asked whether the new government is effectively reporting to Ms Natarajan.
On Friday, Ms Natarajan visited the beach memorial where Ms Jayalalithaa was buried next to M G Ramachandran, who was her on-screen love interest for decades before serving as her political mentor. Chief Minister Pannerselvam accompanied Ms Natarajan, but stood at a distance when she walked upto the grave.
In May this year, the extent of Ms Jayalalithaa's popularity was apparent when she was re-elected for a second consecutive term, a political feat unaccomplished in nearly three decades, during which her party and its main adversary, the DMK, took turns at governance.
In 2014, when she was arrested on corruption charges before being acquitted, upset supporters set public buses on fire. 200 killed themselves, her party claimed at the time.
Post a comment