After Jayalalithaa’s death, BFF Sasikalaa likely to hold the big card

CHENNAI: She was a constant in J Jayalalithaa's life and the closest anyone ever came to her. Be it AIADMK leader's personal needs, her Poes Garden household or accompanying her to public events, Sasikalaa Natarajan took care and rarely left Jayalalithaa's side.

But while her writ ran large, Jayalalithaa kept her on a tight leash, drawing the line when it came to matters of administration. Sasikalaa handpicked party office bearers, mostly from her Thevar (OBC) community, and influenced postings to key government departments.

Her clout was restricted to just that as Jayalalithaa brooked no interference from her. And, not once did Jayalalithaa project her friend as a political heir.

Today, the rustic woman from small town Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district who has always been in her friend's shadow, is in a position to call the shots -in the party and in government too. But the self-effacing school dropout may well take the back seat, preferring to pull strings from behind-thescenes.

The party grapevine has it that Sasikalaa may not be averse to taking over the party reins where her public interaction would be limited, and leave the more high profile job of running the administration to trusted aide O Panneerselvam.

Critics argue that Sasikalaa lacks Jayalalithaa's mass appeal, charisma and importantly, acceptability within AIADMK; she may merely play puppeteer.
Sasikalaa's come a long way since the 1980s when she ran a video shop and her controversial husband Natarajan, then a PRO in the government's publicity department, introduced her to Jayalalithaa.

She moved to Jayalalithaa's residence in 1988 and has remained devoted to Jayalalithaa, proving herself indispensable to the AIADMK leader and her household. Jayalalithaa distanced Sasikalaa twice --- in 1996, blaming her for the party's debacle in the assembly election, then in 2012 when she accused her of betrayal.

Sasikalaa pleaded with Jayalalithaa saying she would sever all links with relatives "to continue to serve the TN chief minister". Jayalalithaa revoked her decision to suspend her from the party's primary membership, welcoming her back.

Through Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation, Sasikalaa's remained a quiet force, leaving the government's running to bureaucrats and party men.