CHENNAI: What was widely expected, now appears closer to reality. In the aftermath of the demise of its czarina J Jayalalithaa, the ruling AIADMK is on the verge of getting another prima donna. A confidant of the late leader, V K Sasikala, glorified household manager of Poes Garden, has emerged out of the shadows of her
intimate friend and is all set to assume the mantle of the party.
However, it is not going to be easy for Jayalalthaa’s long time associate as the challenges that await her are indeed daunting.
When Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker and AIADMK veteran M Thambidurai declared his unequivocal support for Sasikala, it became clear that the last post of resistance had fallen. Earlier, all senior leaders have pledged their allegiance making it a smooth sailing for her. While the party establishment chose to cast its lot with her, there is strong opposition from the AIADMK’s huge social base.
No one had heard her speak at any public forum or express her views in writing. But, she had been closely involved in the affairs of the AIADMK for over three decades. Many senior functionaries including former Assembly Speaker Sedapatti R Muthiah and lawyer N Jothi, who assisted Jayalalithaa in her legal tangles, have openly accused her of plotting their exit from the party. Such was her hold over the party apparatus since Poes Garden replaced the party and government whenever Jayalalithaa was in power.
Hence, no wonder that she now commands the unflinching loyalty of ministers, MLAs and MPs.
According to analysts, the foremost task that she faces is retention of the party social base, especially women. Her limitations would make it difficult to establish acceptability. In the last Assembly election, Jayalalithaa had come to power assuring a whole lot of freebies, including two-wheelers for working women. Implementing them will be a herculean task, given the financial condition of the government.
The next one staring in the face is the local body elections which, now being monitored by the High Court and had to be held shortly. That the difference in vote share between the two Dravidian rivals, AIADMK and DMK, had narrowed down to 2 per cent clearly shows that the road ahead is going to be a thorny one.
With inputs from T Muruganandham