Without any formal status both in the party and government, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s `shadow’ Sasikala Natarajan has now emerged as a key power center in Tamil Nadu politics. She has started holding control over the government and also the party AIADMK, nurtured by Jayalalithaa for decades. She and her family has already said to be dictating terms to all.
Though she is expected to formally take over party’s all-powerful General Secretary position, otherwise also she proved her supremacy. She presided over a crucial meeting of senior ministers and AIADMK functionaries’ at the Poes Garden bungalow last evening, to pay respects for Jayalalithaa.
For the first time in the history of the ruling party, its constitution and the general secretary post becomes important, unlike in the past when the post was held by charismatic leaders such as M. G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa.
According to a report in NDTV, Sasikala sprang into action even before Jayalalithaa was dead dictating terms to all. According to this report, she called a meeting of all ministers and legislators of the AIADMK early morning on Monday, while Jayalalithaa lay in the ICU. There, the ministers and legislators were made to sign next to their names on three otherwise blank A-4 sheets of paper.
Each signed next to their name, said the report. No information was provided on how the signatures would be used. They were also made to sign a register that would establish that a party conclave had been held.
The report claims that Jayalalithaa actually died at 2 pm on Monday, after which a meeting was called for 6 pm. This meeting was known to the media, but it was not attended by five of the most senior ministers, including Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.
However, Chief Minister is not known as a team player so that to mobilise support from cadre. His official residence `Thenpennai’ seen quiet, where even security was also not increased. The name board outside still referred to him as finance minister, incharge of several portfolios. Perhaps, he is the only chief minister of Tamil Nadu in nearly 60 years to reside in a government bungalow.
