With the warring factions of ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu indulging in war of wards amid the political unrest for the ninth consecutive day, interim general secretary VK Sasikala’s emotional address to the party MLAs at a private resort in Chennai came across as a clear attempt to keep her flock together.
On Sunday, in an emotional address to party MLAs near here, CM-designate Sasikala invoked late CM J Jayalalithaa and ‘revealed’ what Amma had told her during her last days at the hospital.
“No one can destroy our party” were the last words of the former AIADMK supremo, Sasikala said, as she vowed to give her entire life to save the party.
"I will protect this party and this government till my dying breath," she said.
Sasikala pledged before Jayalalithaa’s portrait that ‘she will capture the Secretariat’.
"Everyone should take the pledge at former CM J Jayalalithaa's memorial on Marina Beach and then capture the secretariat," she said, adding that ‘Amma (Jaya) has left behind the party as our wealth. We will take it’.
This was Sasikala’s second visit to the resort in last two days. The CM-designate claimed that she was being opposed by those who could not accept a woman entering politics.
Meanwhile, the Panneerselvam camp has gained support of six more MPs of the party. As of now, he enjoys the support of seven MLAs. The number of AIADMK lawmakers joining his group is increasing by the day. Any delay in Governor’s decision on chief ministership will only benefit OPS.
If he gets the support of 18 MLAs, Sasikala will not be able to form the government on her own. In the 235-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, the AIADMK has 135 MLAs.
