Though former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s companion Sasikala Natarajan, who is seen determined to hold full control on the lines of her mentor Jayalalitaa over the party and government seems to be yielding positive results, the environment indicating she has to face rough weather ahead.

She seems to be operating cleverly since the hospitalisation of Jayalalithaa to grab complete domination over affairs of AIADMK and succeeded in making easy transfer of power in selection of Chief Minister, besides all senior leaders are rallying around her. As of now no open rebellion in the party is seen for her to elevate as party’s General Secretary.

However, observers are witnessing that since Jayalalithaa’s passing huge resentment has been building up against Sasikala among party supporters at grass-root level. The main theme is that party cadres were not allowed to meet their leader in her last days in hospital, with the perception that Sasikala was responsible.

Unlike DMK, AIADMK was build up with the charisma and mass appeal of its leaders M G Ramachadnran and Jayalalithaa. It lacks cadre-base on par with DMK. Chief Minister O Panneerselvam may be a good administrator but lacks the charisma of a leader that the AIADMK needs to navigate into the future. Many within the party are looking to Sasikala Natarajan, the departed leader’s most trusted aide, but she lacks political experience and a wider acceptance among AIADMK members.

She also carries baggage, being named in the disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa. The case, which involves a probe into allegations that Jayalalithaa had amassed wealth valued Rs 64 crore in disproportion to her known sources of income, is being heard by the Supreme Court. Legal experts have said the case would continue as the other accused are alive.

Any division among leadership would certainly provide easy path for opposition DMK to hijack power. With 135 MLAs, the ruling party has just about a majority in the 235-seat assembly. Several of them are first-time MLAs who could be vulnerable to poaching by the DMK.