Controlling AIADMK: Sasikala Makes Her Move
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2021-06-15 01:29:15
About the Author
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
View all posts by this Author
Having learnt the tricks of the trade from the late Jayalalitha, Sasikala is not an ordinary operator. After seeing that there was a wave in the favour of the DMK, she had tactically decided to stay away from politics before the state elections. She knew that she would be blamed for the loss. She knew that it would be easier to take control of a party that had recently lost elections. She also knew that it would be easier to convince people to join her camp if the opposite camp had no lollipops to offer to prevent them for changing sides.
Sasikala seems to be upping the ante now. In the last few days, her camp has made public the transcripts of conversation Sasikala had with several AIADMK functionaries leading to the party removing as many as 15 of those identified from the primary membership of the party. Those removed included former minister M Anandan, former MP V K Chinnasamy and party spokesman v Pugazhendi. The AIADMK called her move "bizarre drama" to capture the party.
Sasikala's game plan is clear. She will split the party using all means. The conversations were recorded, obviously without informing the persons with whom she was talking. By making them public, her camp made sure that the AIDMK will act against them and leave them with no option but to join her. Once she manages to snare a good number of people, it will be easy to get the rest. Then she will claim to be the real AIADMK.
At one time there were talks of former chief minister E K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam might reconcile their differences with Sasikala to keep the party united. But that seems to be out of question now. It is now clear that the Sasikala camp is making an all out bid to gain control of the party. Given the fact that she has many sympathizers in the party, it will be interesting to watch how Palaniswami and Panneerselvam thwart her moves.
