Sashikala is AIADMK General Secretary

The ruling party of Tamil Nadu AIADMK appointed VK Sasikala, close confidante and friend of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa as the general secretary after a general council meeting in Chennai on Thursday.

The one and only Sashikala, referred to as Chinnamma in her party took over the leadership of the party while O.Paneerselvam continues as the Chief Minister, thus taking over the late Jayalalithaa’s reins. The move effectively brushed aside any opposition that came in the form of another Sashikala, the rebel MP who was opposing her.

The party also adopted resolutions demanding Jayalalithaa’s birthday to be celebrated as “National Farmers Day” and the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu to be conferred with Magsaysay Award and Nobel prize for World Peace.

Chinnamma’ elected unanimously

VK Sasikala did not attend the meeting but Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam handed over copies of the resolutions passed at the party general meeting to VK Sasikala at Poes Garden. A party source told the media that she doesn’t want any post but it is the party that has thrust the post on her.

The meeting was just a formality as this development was already on the cards since Jayalalithaa’s demise. Sasikala’s appointment is on a temporary basis but she will be formally elected as the general secretary after she completes 5 years as a party member, as per party laws.

The senior leaders of the party had openly declared on Wednesday that VK Sasikala would be the new general secretary and the AIADMK party spokesman C Ponnaiyan had said that no one has submitted application to contest for the post of general secretary and ‘Chinnamma’ will be elected unanimously.

“She alone has the capacity to safeguard the party since she had been with Amma during 30 years of political life. She has all the capabilities to take over as the general secretary”, was the official party statement.