VK Sasikala Establishes Control, Says 'Those Who Loved Amma Will Stay'

Chennai: It was near-perfect attendance for the meeting called today by VK Sasikala to establish that her right to become Tamil Nadu Chief Minister remains undented by the sudden revolt of O Panneerselvam, who she is to replace. 131 of the ruling AIADMK's 134 legislators gathered at the party office in Chennai today, allowing Ms Sasikala to flaunt her unparalleled leadership. In an hour-long speech that prompted applause, Ms Sasikala accused Mr Paneerselvam of lying and betraying both the party and J Jayalalithaa, its powerful leader who died in December while she was still Chief Minister.

"Neither I nor the AIADMK will be cowed down," said Ms Sasikala, wearing a pink sari, though she has of late appeared in green, the colour Ms Jayalalithaa, who she lived with, believed was lucky. In the weeks since Ms Jayalalithaa's death at 68, Ms Sasikala quickly adapted the accoutrements that were the trademarks of the politician: the green sari, the occasional appearance on the balcony of the large bungalow they shared to wave to supporters below, meetings including of the cabinet at the same home instead of at the party office, a minimalist approach to interaction with the media. But in all this, Ms Sasikala has been careful to repeat that her ambition is restricted to "delivering the promises of Amma." And today, she urged her party, "I hope all of you who loved Amma will be with me."

During her life, her lengthy hospitalisation that started in September and ended with her death in December, and a nationally-televised funeral, Ms Jayalalithaa's dependence on Ms Sasikala, who she met in the 80s, was so thoroughly proclaimed that the AIADMK called the aide "Chinamma" (mother's younger sister). And when Ms Jayalalithaa died, the party unquestioningly accepted Ms Sasikala's plan to install Mr Panneerselvam as Chief Minister. His promotion was uncontroversial: twice, Ms Jayalalithaa had chosen him to stand in for her when corruption cases forced her out of office. When she was sick, in the weeks before she died, he was entrusted with the departments that she personally managed. Those that choose to give Ms Sasikala the benefit of the doubt say that in appointing Mr Panneerselvam as head of the government within hours of Ms Jayalalithaa's death, she sought to prevent long-repressed political ambitions from clambering to the surface now that the party's top post was open. But critics say that in fact, what Ms Sasikala was trying to ensure was a hitchless ride to the top for herself, operating on the assumption that Mr Panneerselvam would dutifully move out when instructed to let her become Chief Minister.

Last night, Mr Panneerselvam, who is 66, truncated a lengthy record of obedience to party bosses, and said he plans to fight for his job by withdrawing his resignation and asking for the chance to take a trust vote in the legislature. This, he said, is what Amma intended. For decades, it was what "Amma" decreed that determined her party's agenda. Her unflinching control of the AIADMK rested in her immense popularity among voters, particularly the poor, and a commitment to rewarding loyalists not shy of displaying their sycophancy. Mr Panneerselvam carried her photo in his pocket, refused to use her office or chair when he filled in for her, and wept copiously when he took oath as Chief Minister when she was imprisoned in 2014 on corruption charges.  

Ms Sasikala served time in the same jail; the women are accused of amassing illicit wealth worth about 60 crores during Ms Jayalalithaa's first term as Chief Minister. Month later, they were acquitted, but the Supreme Court has said it will deliver its final verdict next week. Critics of the AIADMK say the party should wait for the judgement before moving Ms Sasikala into the Chief Minister's office. Mr Panneerselvam's call for revolt places him in a party of one, as today's developments have established. And so far, despite proving to be an efficient administrator (the days after Ms Jayalalithaa's death belied expectations of violence by distraught supporters), he has not displayed an ability to command a substantial following.
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But AIADMK sources warn that the Supreme Court decision next week has the potential to reshape Ms Sasikala's authority, and that there is concern among members over her family's vast and allegedly murky business dealings. This "mafia" of relatives (Ms Jayalalithaa ordered Ms Sasikala to publicly disown them as a condition of ending their brief estrangement a few years ago) is among the reasons cited by online campaigns with hashtags like SasikalaNotMyCM, along with complaints about her political inexperience.

The events of the next few days will depend on the choices made by Governor C Vidyasagar Rao who has curiously not returned to Chennai since Ms Sasikala was picked by the party to become Chief Minister. His absence has afforded Mr Panneerselvam the opportunity to gauge his support, the public anger against the planned promotion for Ms Sasikala (hashtags and online petitions deride her political inexperience), and plan and stage his dissent. When asked if she felt the Governor's absence has worked against her, Ms Sasikala told reporters last night, "I feel what you feel."

Ms Sasikala is expected to meet with the Governor when he returns to offer evidence, in the form of signatures of AIADMK legislators, as proof of her right to become Chief Minister. However, Mr Panneerselvam has said he will withdraw his resignation and ask the Governor to let him take a trust vote to establish that the majority of legislators support him - an unlikely prospect.