The 73rd birth anniversary of former Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa saw her close aide V K Sasikala asking “all Amma loyalists” to come together and fight the upcoming assembly elections to usher in Amma rule for the next 100 years.
Sasikala, who reached Chennai a fortnight ago after a 23-hour car journey from Bangalore where she was undergoing imprisonment for four years as an accused in a Disproportionate Asset case, garlanded a picture of Jayalalithaa at the former’s T Nagar bungalow and briefly spoke to her loyalists, mainly Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhakam (AMMK), a political outfit floated by her nephew TTV Dhinakaran.
“The true cadre of Amma should come together and win the elections to form the government. Amma has mandated that even after 100 years, our government should be there. I am confident that you would accomplish that. I will also stand by you. Very soon, I will meet the people and the cadre,” said Sasikala in her brief speech. AIADMK cadre and Tamils address Jayalalithaa as Amma as a mark of reverence.
Sasikala did not mention the name AIADMK even once. She wanted all cadres of Amma come together to win the elections. “To achieve that, you all should stand by me. Each one of you should work like bees and offer the victory in elections to her. You should take a vow towards this and work hard, “ said Sasikala giving enough indications about who the queen bee is.
Though no known AIADMK leaders were present during the small function, leaders of fringe outfits like AISMK, Naam Tamilar (a Tamil chauvinistic organisation) and P R Pandian a CPI-leader-turned-farm leader called on Sasikala along with movie maker Bharati Raja called on Sasikala.
By evening there were reports that a Third-Front under Sasikala’s leadership was being formed and film actor Vijayakanth would cast his lot with this front. Though Vijayakanth has been immobilized because of indifferent health, his spouse Premalatha who is the treasurer of the DMDK had declared her support for Sasikala.
The AIADMK is yet to commence its talks on seat sharing with prospective allies. The DMDK has been expressing restless over the delay in seat-allocation talks. It is expected that the talks would gather momentum once the Election Commission of India announces the poll schedule this week.
