V K Sasikala senses a comeback opportunity as AIADMK reels from Lok Sabha poll debacle

Though the 69-year-old Sasikala, sidelined for the past few years, has signalled her intent to make another comeback by publicly demanding that the party reunite, her well-wishers and AIADMK insiders said her efforts were likely to be in vain as she missed crucial opportunities to reclaim her position: first, when she failed to capitalise on the moment after her release from prison in January 2021, then by missing the 2021 Assembly polls and the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Sasikala, raising serious concerns about the AIADMK’s successive electoral setbacks, also attacked the DMK government and its “poor administration”. Known as “Chinnamma” within the AIADMK, she said despite the party’s massive setback in the Lok Sabha polls, it was not yet finished “because my entry has just begun”.

Once a dominant force in state politics, the AIADMK is now a shadow of its former self. While the Sasikala, Panneerselvam, and T T V Dhinakaran (Sasikala’s nephew) factions are engaged in negotiations to get back into the party, the pleas seem to have had little impact on the party cadre, who remain united under Palaniswami. Popularly known as EPS, the AIADMK leader is adamant that he will not take back the ousted leaders and dismissed the calls to integrate the splinter groups, saying the party has improved its vote share in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections compared to 2019. He also questioned the credentials of the members of the newly floated “AIADMK Integration Committee” and their motives.

Sasikala’s latest move to connect with leaders and loyalists is seen less as a genuine comeback attempt and more as her testing the waters to assess the extent of her remaining influence. “Despite her efforts, no significant leader within the AIADMK is rallying behind her. Not a single leader from the second, or third-tier, of the leadership has promised her their support. I used to be very loyal to her. I am still thankful but I am aloof when it comes to the Idea of joining her camp,” said a former AIADMK minister in Jayalalithaa’s Cabinet who remains with the party.

Even as Sasikala is trying to “unify” the AIADMK, her refusal to collaborate with her nephew Dhinakaran, the founder of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), further weakens her position. Jaya TV, controlled by Sasikala, still avoids covering Dhinakaran and the AMMK, highlighting the rift between them.

A close aide of Sasikala said her attempt to mobilise support within the AIADMK seems to be floundering. “Although the AIADMK is struggling, Sasikala’s efforts to create more confusion within the party are unlikely to succeed,” the aide said.

Meanwhile, the AIADMK Integration Committee, made up of former party functionaries, including ex-MLAs and spokespersons, met Sasikala on Sunday to press for their unity bid. They have also reached out to EPS as well as OPS and Dhinakaran, seeking appointments to discuss the party’s future.

A statement from Sasikala on Sunday called for the party workers to come together, and reminded them of the need for unity to overcome the recent electoral setbacks. Sasikala also reminded the workers of their past successes and of the need to regain their former glory.

After her release from prison, where she had been sent in a disproportionate assets case, Sasikala was expected to attempt to recapture the party. Her two trusted aides Panneerselvam and EPS, who had ditched and ousted her from the party in 2017, feared she would gain the support of some AIADMK leaders. Dhinakaran’s AMMK ensured a rousing welcome for Sasikala from Bangalore to Chennai. But she quickly went aloof.

In early February 2021, Sasikala said nobody could rule out her stake in state politics. On her arrival in Chennai from Bengaluru, she vowed not to let the “enemy” capture the government and appealed for unity. But by March 2021, her position had changed as she announced her decision to step aside from politics, urging unity to reestablish “Amma’s rule (AIADMK government)”. Her sudden withdrawal was seen as fear of the BJP at the Centre as she had more cases pending against her.

She left Dhinakaran who had been fighting against the BJP and the AIADMK stranded. As his visibility and importance in state politics kept falling, Dhinakaran ended up joining the NDA, contesting from Theni at the Lok Sabha polls, after the AIADMK quit the NDA. He lost to the DMK candidate.

While senior AIADMK leaders refused to comment on Sasikala’s latest move, they indicated that she has “unfinished business” and desires to “strengthen the party”. As things stand, it is unlikely to bring about any significant change within the party, which EPS continues to dominate.