Ramanathapuram (Tamil Nadu), Feb 24 VK Sasikala, the expelled leader of the AIADMK and close confidante of the late party supremo J Jayalalithaa, announced the launch of a new political party on Tuesday, just months before the Tamil Nadu elections, where a four-cornered contest is likely.
Sasikala, a key figure in the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's administration, stated, "We will witness a new political chapter."
Addressing an event to mark the birth anniversary of Jayalalithaa in Kamuthi, she declared, "I will soon announce the name of the new party. It will function as a party that defeats both opponents and those who betray; we will witness a new (political) chapter."
"I have made a clear decision, it is for the sake of Tamil Nadu, its people, and our cadres; we will witness a new era (chapter), we will start a new party, and it will be a Dravidian party," she added.
The party will be for the common people, the ordinary, and the poor, following the path of Dravidian stalwarts CN Annadurai, MGR, and 'Amma' Jayalalithaa, she stated.
Her foray into a new party could potentially lead to a four-cornered electoral contest in the state Assembly polls, scheduled for April, with the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance on one side and the AIADMK-headed NDA on the other. Actor Vijay's TVK is also making its electoral debut.
Sasikala alleged that the DMK was an "evil force" and vowed to remove it from power.
On Tuesday, Sasikala unveiled the flag of the yet-to-be-named party, which features images of Dravidian icon Annadurai, AIADMK founder MGR, and Jayalalithaa. The flag is a horizontal tricolour with black on top, white in the middle, and red at the bottom.
Explaining the events that unfolded following Jayalalithaa's death in December 2016, she criticised Edappadi K Palaniswami, saying she had named him as chief minister and had taken steps to ensure that the government (2016-21) did not fall due to instability.
She targeted Palaniswami on several counts, including his objection to displaying the AIADMK flag on his vehicle.
She stated that the very same person she had named as chief minister (Palaniswami) had ousted her from the party, "just like throwing a piece of paper." "I do not show my anger, and I learned that from Thalaivar (MGR)," she said.
Regarding O Panneerselvam, she said his decision to rebel when Palaniswami was named chief minister, pursued a "Dharma Yudham," ultimately caused him problems.
On Jayalalithaa's 72-day hospitalisation in 2016, she said, "I had even fixed an auspicious time to bring her home. But unexpectedly, she suffered a heart attack-like episode." She also stated that opponents spread rumors that she "killed" Jayalalithaa. "Will anyone believe this?" she asked, adding that this was done for political gain and was not true.
Sasikala said she remained in a Bengaluru jail and did not heed the advice of then-AIADMK ministers, including KA Sengottaiyan (now in TVK), to be transferred to a prison in Tamil Nadu. Between 2017 and 2021, she was imprisoned in Bengaluru after being convicted in a disproportionate assets case.
Sasikala said she remained in a Karnataka prison and did not consider moving to Tamil Nadu, as that could have paved the way for the DMK to raise suspicions and level allegations against the then-AIADMK regime.
She alleged that, "daily I faced problems" in the Bengaluru jail and further claimed that she was blamed for everything. The background to such a scenario was due to the influence exerted by powers-that-be over officials in the neighbouring state. Though Karnataka authorities granted 15 days parole to her, there was no response from the Tamil Nadu government led by Palaniswami that she had installed.
Later, a top Chennai police official told Karnataka jail authorities that they could provide "police permission" for her stay in Chennai for only five days as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (Palaniswami) himself had said so, she claimed.
She faced several conditions imposed by Tamil Nadu authorities for her stay in Chennai and she was specifically told not to stay in the Poes Garden residence of late Jayalalithaa; and she was told that if this condition was flouted even the 5-day permission would be withdrawn, she further alleged.
On Tuesday, she distributed welfare assistance to beneficiaries.
Later speaking to reporters, she said she had been waiting for this moment.
"I have been in politics for 39 years. I waited for nine years. This moment is ours - from members at branch level to the entire state - they all have a right to the flag. That's why the flag contains the images of the three leaders. This will give confidence to the poor," she said. Sasikala said she will dispense people's governance on the path shown by MGR and Jayalalithaa.
The flag symbolizes eradication of poverty, equality and employment generation, she said. Amid speculation that she may launch a new party and ahead of the anniversary event, Sasikala had asserted that she would soon, "give good news."