Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today expelled Sasikala Natarajan,her close and controversial aide,from the primary membership of the AIADMK. Sasikalas husband and relatives too were expelled.
Those removed from all posts and the party were Sasikala,her husband M Natarajan,brother V K Diwakar,nephews T T V Dinakaran a former MP,V N Sudhakaran whom Jayalalithaa had adopted as a foster son,V Bhaskaran,S Venkatesh,Ravanan,M Ramachandran,Kulothungan,Rajarajan,V Mahadevan,V Thangamani and entrepreneur Midas Mohan.
Known in party circles as Chinnamma,Sasikala has been Jayalalithaas constant companion for many years,and is a co-accused in the disproportionate assets case against the CM. She wielded great clout in the party and government without holding any significant post.
The AIADMK gave no reason for the expulsions. There was talk that the CM was unhappy over the alleged highhandedness of Sasikalas family and friends,about which some very senior bureaucrats had complained.
Sources said Sasikala left the CMs Poes Garden residence,where she had been living for the past several years,yesterday.