Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa sacks VK Sasikala

CHENNAI: AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa has sacked her longtime confidante VK Sasikala and 11 others from the basic membership of the party. AIADMK sources close to the developments at Poes Garden — Jayalalithaa’s residence, where Sasikala and close associates also stay — had some inkling of what was coming though not many thought it would be so abrupt and sharp.

Just a few days ago senior bureaucrats were sounded off to not let anyone interfere in administrative decisions even if they claimed to wield influence. The inference was that Sasikala and her kinfolk were the targets. The axe fell on Monday, and in typical Jaya style it was lock, stock and barrel: Sasikala was expelled along with her husband M Natarajan and 10 others, including TV Dinakaran and VN Sudhakaran.

They have also been stripped of the party’s primary membership. In a statement, the chief minister directed partymen not to have any truck with them.


Incidentally, both Jayalalithaa and Sasikala were jail mates once, and their relations outside prison were seen to be as closely shackled. This is not the first time that Jayalalithaa and Sasikala are having a strained relationship. After her crushing defeat in 1996 followed by imprisonment during the DMK regime, Jaya had fallen out with Sasikala, but the two patched up later.

This time, however, the rift seems stronger, particularly in the backdrop of rumours that there had been secretive discussions behind Jaya’s back about the likely political scenario in case the CM is pronounced guilty in the DA case before the special court in Bangalore. Sasikala is a co-accused in the case.

Indications that something was amiss between Jaya and her alter ego was suspected from the time AIADMK stormed to power in May, vanquishing DMK to third place, behind even DMDK. But, despite differences, Sasikala had attended Jayalalithaa’s swearing-in ceremony in May.

The frequent shuffling of bureaucrats and ministers during AIADMK’s rule this time pointed to severe internal pressures in the ruling party, and political observers thought such knee-jerk administrative interference would undo any governance points that the chief minister may otherwise earn.

It was widely felt in political and business circles that Sasikala and her relatives were calling the shots in party and administrative affairs. Some political observers say the development will cheer AIADMK leaders as they would be relieved from the ordeal of dealing with a power centre anymore.

Many are also considered to be relieved that the ‘Mannarkudi gang’, as the Sasikala clan is referred to, are no more within the AIADMK camp as a second power centre.

The expulsion of Sasikala is seen to have a measure of political timing. Having won the assembly election and the local body election in the state, this was an opportune time for the chief minister to take such a tough call.

The powerful and influential Thevar community to which Sasikala belongs may not quite digest this decision, but the chief minister seems to have decided enough is enough with intrigues plaguing her governance right at the beginning of her third term.