In a surprising move, VK Sasikala who was shown the door from AIADMK after the death of her close aide Jayalalitha has decided to launch a political party. When Jayalalitha was at the peak of her career, Sasikala played the role of her constant and close aide.
Following Jayalalitha’s death, Sasikala served a jail term for the high-level corruption that took place during Jayalalitha’s rule.
But now, Sasikala has launched a political party herself. The Assembly elections are likely to happen in April or May in Tamil Nadu. Already, Vijay’s TVK is making its political debut with 2026 elections.
Sasikala is calling her party All India Puratchi Talaivar Makkal Munetra Khazagam. Coconut tree will be her election symbol. She launched the party on Jayalalitha’s birthday and the flag of her party has red, black and green colors with the pictures of former CMs of Tamil Nadu CN Annadurai, MG Ramachandran and Jayalalitha in the center. Surprisingly, Sasikala shared an anecdote while she launched the party.
Sasikala said she was in a similar position to MG Ramachandran who led a party (AIADMK) started by the cadre. Her new party was actually started by one of her supporters. In fact, Annadurai was the founder of DMK and MGR was the founder of AIADMK.
By putting both the pictures along with Jayalalitha’s, Sasikala seems to tell the people of Tamil Nadu that her party is meant for Tamils as a whole.
Sasikala by herself does not hold a strong political footing in Tamil Nadu. Despite being associated with Jayalalitha for so many years, the Tamilians saw corruption in her rather than an able leader.
Already, the scene is crowded in Tamil Nadu and many veterans continue to hold ground. Then there is the entry of Vijay with his party TVK.
Amidst all of them, it would be tough for Sasikala to get a strong foothold, predict Tamil political analysts. They point out the example of Janaki Ramachandran who tried to prove she was the heir to her husband’s seat after MGR’s death. But the politically and socially aware Tamil population voted for Jayalalitha till her death.
Already, reports from Tamil Nadu say that the party will disappear soon and that Sasikala will not be able to project herself as an able, people-centric politician.
