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Jayalalithaa’s confidant VK <keyword id="6358664" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sasikala">Sasikala</keyword> has been unanimously elected as her successor and will take over as General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). 
 
Sasikala, a close friend and confidant of Jayalalithaa, was chosen to head the party. 
 
Reportedly, the General Council body of AIADMK passed the resolution to elect Sasikala Natarajan as the General Secretary almost unanimously. However there were few dissent notes as well. The post fell vacant following the demise of party general secretary and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on December 5. 
 
The meeting was attended by over 2000 party workers, but Sasikala wasn’t present there. 
 
Yesterday, clashes broke out between AIADMK workers and supporters of Rajya Sabha member Sasikala Pushpa outside the ruling party's office in Chennai. 
 
Sasikala Pushpa had earlier expressed her wish to contest for the party's general secretary post. Sasikala was expelled from the AIADMK sometime back but did not resign from the Rajya Sabha.

Sasikala is the new general secretary of AIADMK

<ul><li><keyword id="6358664" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="sasikala">Sasikala</keyword> has been an important part of <keyword id="6378684" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu-politics">Tamil Nadu politics</keyword> for over three decades, functioning as the woman ‘next in power’ after the late <keyword id="42104" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jayalalithaa">Jayalalithaa</keyword>. </li><li>“I believe she would want to correct the perception that Jayalalithaa was the good person and Sasikala was the bad influence. She will want to set the record straight,” a senior journalist said.</li><li>Sasikala will be formally released from jail today after serving a four-year sentence for a corruption case. She, however, will continue to be treated in the hospital for COVID-19. </li></ul>VK Sasikala, once one of the most powerful women of Tamil Nadu and the closest confidante of former Chief Minister, the late J Jayalalithaa, will be formally released from jail today after serving a four-year sentence for amassing wealth through corruption. Neither her chequered past and the jail term, nor being infected by COVID-19 virus, would make her less of a player in Tamil Nadu politics. Hopes and fears are surging about the role that she could choose to play in the upcoming state assembly elections. <div type="image" title="sasikala" msid="80475129" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Sasikala surrounded by supporters in a file photo.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The Sasikala factor is something all parties including her home party the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (<keyword id="41902" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="AIADMK">AIADMK</keyword>) ⁠— which she was ousted from after being jailed⁠— as well as rival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by MK Stalin would be wary of. The incumbent Chief Minister, Edappadi Palanisamy, was Sasikala’s choice before the party distanced itself. He recently <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tamil-nadu-cm-edappadi-k-palaniswami-rules-out-any-ties-with-sasikala/articleshow/80358126.cms">said</a> there’s no chance Sasikala will be reinstated into the AIADMK but as the cliche goes, there are no permanent friends or foes in politics. Sasikala isn’t just the woman in jail no. 9234. She has been an important part of Tamil Nadu politics for over three decades, functioning as the woman ‘next in power’ after Jayalalithaa. After the death of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief, Sasikala rose to power as calls for Chinamma (an epithet used to position her as the heir to Jayalalithaa, who was called Amma, meaning mother), as she was fondly called, to be the Chief Minister filled the air. Jayalalithaa was the first accused even in the disproportionate assets case, in which Sasikala was jailed. <div type="image" title="supporters" msid="80475198" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Sasikala and Jayalalithaa supporters hold placards with photos of the two leaders&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> “It may be too soon to comment on whether she will be included again in the party⁠— whether as a General Secretary or mentor or any other role⁠— but many AIADMK leaders have objected to criticising Sasikala in any form,” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvzKEsu8rxA">explained</a> a senior journalist Rangaraj Pandey on his YouTube channel, Chanakya on Jan 16. “For Sasikala, the most important thing will be to erase the taint on her reputation. I believe she would want to correct the perception that Jayalalithaa was the good person and Sasikala was the bad influence. She will want to set the record straight.” If Sasikala does return to prominence in Tamil Nadu one more time, it won’t be a surprise. Here’s a look at how she lost and regained power one too many times. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="From running a video cassette business to being Tamil Nadu’s second most powerful woman" comment="subhead" text="From running a video cassette business to being Tamil Nadu’s second most powerful woman">From running a video cassette business to being Tamil Nadu’s second most powerful woman</cmsannotation> In the early 1980s, in Chennai’s Alwarpet tucked away was a tiny little shop “Vinod Video Centre”. That video rental business was run by Sasikala Natarajan. Her husband R Natarajan worked as a Public Relations officer in Tamil Nadu government. It is through him⁠— and a senior civil servant <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/frenemies-forever-tracing-25-year-history-between-jayalalithaa-and-subramanian-swamy-51260">VS Chandralekha</a>, who continues to play a key role in Tamil Nadu politics even now as an advisor to senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy ⁠— that Sasikala first met Jayalalithaa, a superstar at the time being groomed by the then leader of AIADMK and Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran. MGR’s death in 1987 put the spotlight on Jayalalithaa, who after being manhandled by MGR’s supporters and his wife, swept the assembly elections in 1991 and began her tenure as the state’s Chief Minister, a position she went on to win six times. Standing beside her, for most that period, were Sasikala and Natarajan, both of whom moved into Poes Garden with her. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The rise of the Mannargudi Mafia" comment="subhead" text="The rise of the Mannargudi Mafia">The rise of the Mannargudi Mafia</cmsannotation> Even when Jayalalithaa ousted Natarajan from the house in 1990, Sasikala stayed back. She then continued to walk one step behind Jayalalithaa, while her family became all that the CM had. <div type="image" title="jaya sasi" msid="80475214" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;File photo of Sasikala with Jayalalithaa&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Sasikala kept chipping away until people she chose or trusted went on to hold some of the most important posts in the Tamil Nadu government. Just like the fictional character Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather, Sasikala’s clout, often derisively described as the “Mannargudi Mafia”, is still omnipresent in the state. “Their men are everywhere from Jaya TV to Ministers’ offices, and have stooges in police and IAS, top to bottom. The system got weakened after the fall of Sasikala in 2012, but once she was back, they were too. And they don’t leave out anything, even the cycle-stand contracts in bus-stands are taken in by them," an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer told <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/mannargudi-intrigue-how-sasikalas-family-grew-control-tns-power-structures-43001">The News Minute in 2016.</a> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Jayalalithaa and Sasikala – not a completely rosy picture" comment="subhead" text="Jayalalithaa and Sasikala – not a completely rosy picture">Jayalalithaa and Sasikala – not a completely rosy picture</cmsannotation> The duo, who had ruled politics in Tamil Nadu, also had their ups and downs. In a move that shocked many, in 2011, Jayalalithaa had expelled Sasikala and 13 of her family members from AIADMK. “All party men are directed not to have any contact whatsoever with all these expelled persons,” Jayalalithaa had <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/content/212823/jayalalitha-expels-sasikala-13-others.html">said then. </a> Earlier in 1996, Jayalalithaa had first distanced herself from Sasikala when they were arrested in the ₹66 crore disproportionate assets case. It was reported that Sasikala’s growing clout in AIADMK that began to bother Jayalalithaa. But soon after in 2012, the Tamil Nadu CM marked a U-turn by reinstating Sasikala, after she publicly disassociated herself from her family members and wrote an apology letter to Jayalalithaa. <div type="image" title="jaya sasi 1" msid="80475258" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;File photo of AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa with her close aide V K Sasikala&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Jayalalithaa’s death and Sasikala’s close brush with being the CM" comment="subhead" text="Jayalalithaa’s death and Sasikala’s close brush with being the CM">Jayalalithaa’s death and Sasikala’s close brush with being the CM</cmsannotation> Sasikala bounced back to prominence and cemented her position as Jayalalithaa’s most important aide by the time of the latter’s death in December 2016. <div type="image" title="jayalalitha death" msid="80475235" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Sasikala at Jayalalithaa&amp;#39;s funeral&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Even as conspiracy theories <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jayalaithaa-slowly-poisoned-to-death-by-sasikala-with-unsuitable-food-alleges-aiadmk-minister/story-IyKNIgM5rO73a26ORJC5AK.html">alleged</a> that it was Sasikala who had slowly poisoned the leader, the party stood by Chinnamma. And so did the powers that be in New Delhi. “I emphatically request that respected Chinnamma has to immediately take over the leadership of the Government, as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,” wrote deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha M Thambidurai <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/know/sasikala-in-ammas-likeness/article9461395.ece">in a letter</a>. <div type="image" title="sasikala11" msid="80475285" hostid="261"></div> Sasikala continued to live in Poes Garden – a house that was never hers, and Jayalithaa never left a will. Until she was arrested. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Sasikala’s world goes tumbling down" comment="subhead" text="Sasikala’s world goes tumbling down">Sasikala’s world goes tumbling down</cmsannotation> In February 2017, Sasikala was sent to jail along with her nephew V N Sudhagaran and sister-in-law J Elavarasi in the disproportionate assets case. The Supreme Court of India over-ruled the Karnataka High Court’s decision from 2015, which had acquitted Jayalalithaa and others, and sent them all packing to jail. During the <a href="https://scroll.in/latest/978884/vk-sasikala-pays-rs-10-crore-fine-in-disproportionate-assets-case-lawyer-says-early-release-likely">investigation</a>, it was found that Sasikala and her relatives through shell companies had bought properties worth ₹300 crore in and around Chennai. In 2020, Sasikala’s relatives paid the ₹10 crore fine on her behalf. During her tenure in jail, <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/top-prison-official-accused-of-accepting-2-crore-from-sasikala/article19265812.ece">reports</a> said that Sasikala had allegedly bribed jail officials for preferential treatment. She had also been let out first on a five-day parole in 2017 to meet her ailing husband Natarajan and then again on a 15-day parole in 2018 to attend his funeral. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="One more chance for Sasikala" comment="subhead" text="One more chance for Sasikala">One more chance for Sasikala</cmsannotation> To put it very mildly, Sasikala’s emergence from jail ahead of the Tamil Nadu polls is likely to make it a lot more interesting. <div type="image" title="sasikala1" msid="80475272" hostid="261"></div> While the DMK is touted to be ahead in the electoral race, as per many estimates, the incumbent AIADMK government under E Palanisamy is stronger than it was when she was arrested. There were many who thought the AIADMK government wouldn’t survive its full term but it did. The party did break as Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dinakaran took charge of the faction that was spun out. However, he has, in the past, underscored that his commitment is to protecting Jayalalithaa’s legacy more than any party. If he sticks to that stance, there is room for the rival factions to unite. And as far as the AIADMK is concerned, there is a need for it too. The tug of war between the Chief Minister Palanisamy and the Finance Minister O Panneerselvam continues till date. Sasikala can fix that too. The question is whether she wants to. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/old-vehicle-owners-may-have-to-pay-up-to-3800-per-year-as-green-tax/articleshow/80473971.cms">Old vehicle owners may have to pay up to ₹3,800 per year as ‘Green tax’</a>

Sasikala returns in an election year⁠ — a woman who has won and lost it all one too many times has another shot at power

In a major setback to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=AIADMK+&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">AIADMK </a>General Secretary <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=VK+Sasikala&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">VK Sasikala</a>, the <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> upheld the trial court’s judgment in 21-year-old disproportionate case and send her to four years jail. Now, <keyword id="6358664" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sasikala">Sasikala</keyword> stands disqualified to take over as <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Tamil+Nadu+Chief+Minister&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Tamil Nadu Chief Minister</a>. 
 
She has been disqualified to contest elections for 10 years. Sasikala had served close to six months in jail earlier. 
 "Traitors have insulted Amma," the <keyword id="41902" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="AIADMK">AIADMK</keyword> tweeted soon after the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Supreme+Court&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Supreme Court</a>'s verdict which came after a week-long bitter battle between Sasikala and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=O+Panneerselvam&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">O Panneerselvam</a> over CM's chair. 
 As a result, the coast is now clear for <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword> caretaker Chief Minister <keyword id="6361660" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="O-Panneerselvam">O Panneerselvam</keyword>, who has been locked in a bitter battle with Sasikala since last week over the CM's chair, to take over on the post.

Sasikala sent to four years jail in disproportionate assets case; CM hopes dead

At 5.30 p.m, <keyword id="6360110" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ttv-dhinakaran">TTV Dhinakaran</keyword> of AMMK was trailing marginally by 1068 votes behind <keyword id="41902" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="AIADMK">AIADMK</keyword>’s <keyword id="11190420" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="kadambar-raju">Kadambar Raju</keyword>. TTV Dhinakaran is one of the key leaders in the state facing the 2021 state assembly elections. He is fighting a tough battle against the AIADMK’s Kadambur Raju, and DMK alliance’s CPM candidate K Srinivasan. This created a triangular contest for the Kovilpatti seat. Dhinakaran in active politics TTV Dhinakaran is the nephew of VK Sasikala and the founder of AMMK (Amma Makkal Munettra Kazhagam). Dinakaran is an incumbent MLA from RK Nagar in Chennai. After AIADMK ousted him along with VK Sasikala following her conviction in a corruption case, TTV Dhinakaran launched his own party under the name AMMK. Failing the widespread anticipations about her re-entry into politics following her release from the prison, VK Sasikala announced her decision to stay away from politics. The resulting scenario found Dhinakaran all alone to fight for his fate in the political platform. Dhinakaran and RK Nagar constituency After the AIADMK faced a big setback following the demise of its General Secretary J.Jayalalitha in 2017, Dhinakaran bagged a stunning victory from RK Nagar by-poll, which Jayalalithaa had represented earlier. In this election, AIADMK lost miserably to DMK losing its deposit and facing one of the worst humiliations. Nevertheless, this victory has not been able to woo TTV Dhinakaran once again to face the 2021 elections by fielding from this constituency. Political viewers feel Dhinakaran’s decision to fight from the Kovilpatti constituency ensues from his inclination to bank on the sizeable Thevar community in the constituency which could support him. The election scene in Kovilpatti A lot of voters in the constituency seem to share displeasure with AIADMK’s Kadambur Raju. During the last elections, he won from here with a thin margin of 428 votes. In the 2019 local body elections, AMMK bagged the union chairman post in Kayathar by winning from 10 wards. AMMK also won from minister Kadambur Raju’s own village called Chidambarapuram. AMMK’s south zone secretary Manikkaraja took charge as the chairman of Kayathar. Manikkaraja hails from a rich landlord family that has been enjoying close bonds with the Sasikala family since long. A number of district secretaries of the AMMK party in Tamil Nadu’s south districts are under his control. Manikkaraja’s role in Dhinakaran’s decision to fight from Kovilpatti Earlier, TTV Dhinakaran wanted to contest from Usilampatti constituency. It was Manikkaraja who reminded him that the people of this constituency are not so happy with Kadambur Raju and he could win last time from here only with a very thin margin. The size of the Mukkulathor population here is 23 percent. Manikkavelu assured Dhinakaran that he could force not less than 50,000 among the 65,000 voters in Kayathar union to extend their support in Dhinakaran’s favour. Winning prospects for Dhinakaran from Kovilpatti One of the downsides Dhinakaran faces here is that the people of other communities see him as the representative of Mukkulathor. MDMK general secretary Vaiko enjoys a strong reputation in this constituency. It is possible that Srinivasan can command a sizeable Naicker community vote. So, Dhinakaran can hope to win from here only if he could have attracted the votes of other communities besides those of Mukkulathor. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/final-tally-of-suvendu-adhikari-mukul-roy-rajiv-ghosh-and-other-ex-tmc-leaders-who-fought-on-bjp-ticket/articleshow/82354609.cms">These 13 former TMC leaders got tickets from BJP – only four of them are leading</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/bjp-is-now-leading-on-four-of-the-twenty-seats-it-contested-in-tamil-nadu/articleshow/82354058.cms">BJP is now leading on four of the twenty seats it contested in Tamil Nadu</a>

AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran fights it out fiercely with AIADMK’s Kadambar Raju

Soon after caretaker Chief Minister <keyword id="6361660" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="O-Panneerselvam">O Panneerselvam</keyword> visited Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, AIADMK General Secretary VK <keyword id="6358664" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sasikala">Sasikala</keyword> today staked claim to form the government during a 40-minute meeting with Rao, who arrived in the city this afternoon. Sasikala gave the Governor a letter presumably containing the names of MLAs who elected her as AIADMK Legislature Party Leader, and requested him to invite her to form the government. 
 However, the Governor's response is not immediately known. Sasikala arrived at 7.25 pm at the Raj Bhavan and left after a meeting that lasted about 40 minutes. At 5 pm, <keyword id="291784" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Panneerselvam">Panneerselvam</keyword> had called on Rao and after a brief meeting told reporters that "good things will happen and dharma will triumph". The Chief Minister is now meeting his supporters at his Greenways Road official residence. Sasikala was elected Legislature Party Leader on February 5, paving the way for her becoming the chief minister. Subsequently, Panneerselvam raised a banner of revolt on February 7, along with his supporters. He currently has the support of leaders like former Ministers KP Munusamy, Natham R Viswanathan, Rajya Sabha MP V Maithreyan and a few sitting MLAs.

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Sasikala is the new general secretary of AIADMK

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Sasikala returns in an election year⁠ — a woman who has won and lost it all one too many times has another shot at power

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Sasikala sent to four years jail in disproportionate assets case; CM hopes dead

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AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran fights it out fiercely with AIADMK’s Kadambar Raju

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Sasikala calls on Tamil Nadu Governor, stakes claim to form government

BI India Bureau

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