Game on as Sasikala sat in a vehicle with the AIADMK flag upon release from hospital

Bengaluru | Chennai: Victoria hospital authorities in Bengaluru on Sunday discharged Sasikala Natarajan, trusted aide of the late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha.

Natarajan was at the Victoria Hospital to receive treatment for Covid-19, and was declared healthy and fit by the hospital authorities.

Dressed in a saree with a mask and gloves, 'Chinnamma' as she is commonly referred to greeted her fans with folded hands and got into a car with the AIADMK flag on it.


This becomes significant as her nephew TTV Dinakaran, who was also expelled from the AIADMK, floated his own party called the AMMK and yet she chose to get into a car with the AIADMK flag on it, analysts said.

The symbolism was a clear indication of her intentions, analysts said it would be interesting to see how things pan out with her arrival in Chennai.

Sasikala's release comes at a crucial juncture as Tamil Nadu is gearing up for polls.

The government took a decision to to convert her former residence, Jayalalithaa's 'Veda Nilayam' in Chennai's upmarket Poes Garden, into a memorial. However, construction for Sasikala's residence has been ongoing ever since in a plot that is bang opposite the former CM's home. The progress of the construction, however, had been slowed owing to the pandemic.

Speculation is rife that Sasikala will most likely live in her T Nagar property in the interim.

The Karnataka government on Sunday had deployed policemen at Victoria Hospital premises to prevent large gatherings.

Her friends, relatives and fans besides brother Bhaskaran had gathered in front of the hospital from the morning to see her walking into freedom.

Natarajan had undergone four years of simple imprisonment at the central prison in Bengaluru after a special court convicted her and others in a disproportionate assets case.

A private 10-member escort team had arrived from Chennai to provide security cover to her.