Team News Riveting
With the release of V K Sasikala from the Bengaluru jail Wednesday, the political spectrum in Tamil Nadu may see a significant transition as the state goes to the polls this year.
The close confidante of AIADMK Chief J Jayalalithaa, Sasikala has not opened her cards and her return to politics is uncertain. But her release will have an impact in the electorates’ mood towards the ruling AIADMK ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections.
Sasikala was freed from the Parappana Agrahara central jail after close to four years of imprisonment. She was convicted in a disproportionate assets case on February 14, 2017 and was released after paying a Rs 10-crore fine, failing which her imprisonment would have been extended by another 13 months.
In the disproportionate assets case, Jayalalithaa was the first accused.
While Sasikala will continue to stay in Victoria Hospital for a few more days before she makes her way back to Chennai after almost four years, her political rivals and allies will be looking closely to see what her next move will be.
Sasikala, who hails from Mannargudi near Thanjavur, wields a sizable influence among the Thevar community, which dominates in the AIADMK. With superstar Rajinikant’s sudden decision to withdraw from entering electoral politics with his new party, Sasikala’s renewed presence in the Tamil Nadu politics may be the game-changer.
Political observers however feel for someone who has been locked away in prison and completely out of action at a time when Tamil Nadu politics has been in a constant state of flux, Sasikala might not have too many options. But people close to her believe she will not throw in the towel easily and will weigh her options to see how she can make a comeback specially to level the score with Chief Minister Edappdy K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is eyeing to consolidate its base in Tamil Nadu, would not like to flare up any dispute between the incumbent leadership and Sasikala, who had worked closely with the former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and had been well verged of the strengths and weaknesses of all the leaders and could use it to her advantage.
Sasikala would also explore the possibility of a tie-up with the BJP and help the NDA in Tamil Nadu by not jeopardising the AIADMK and being a part of an AIADMK-BJP-AMMK alliance. Literally, joining hands with BJP would be in her interest too.
