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How Sasikala's Release Will Impact The AIADMK-BJP Alliance

By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2021-01-20 10:36:28

The imminent release of Sasikala from jail has added spice to the political situation in Tami Nadu ahead of the assembly elections expected to be held in April. Sasikala is to be released in a couple of days as she will pay a fine of Rs 10 crore in the disproportionate assets case for which she has been in jail for the last four years.

Chief Minister E K Paliniswami has categorically ruled out readmitting Sasikala to the AIADMK. When asked, Paliniswami said "no chance for that. She is not in the party at all. 100 per cent she will not be admitted. AIADMK is now functioning after clearly deciding on this. There is no different opinion on this." Paliniswami knows that Sasikala still wields tremendous influence over a section of the party. But will keeping her out solve matters?

Also, reports are doing the rounds that the BJP wants Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran to merge their party, the AMMK, with the AIADMK to prevent the division of votes. The AMMK had got 5 percent of the votes in the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 and can influence the results in many assembly constituencies. The BJP wants the AMMK to be a part its alliance with the AIADMK and several other smaller parties. Paliniswami visited Delhi to sound out Modi and Shah on this issue but it is not known what transpired in the meeting.

It is clear that the AIADMK is facing a resurgent DMK (especially after charges of corruption on many of its leaders have not been proven) and is also facing huge anti-incumbency. Hence, the BJP wants to seal deals with all parties that can bring the alliance back to power. But the present setup in the AIADM is not comfortable with either Sasikala or Dhinakaran. It remains to be seen how the BJP convinces them and what deal it strikes with Sasikala. 

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