AIADMK functionaries again urge Jayalalithaa's aide Sasikala to lead party

Strongly backing late Jayalalithaa's long time aide Sasikala, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on December 10 had said that she should lead the AIADMK.

Pic courtesy: @AIADMKOfficial

Chennai: The AIADMK party functionaries on Tuesday again urged Sasikala to lead the party.

The official handle of the party tweeted:

AIADMK Party functionaries again today urged Thirumathi.V.K.Sasikala to lead the party on the path shown by Puratchi Thalaivi Amma. pic.twitter.com/cWFMw18Qyd — AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) December 13, 2016

On December 10, strongly backing late Jayalalithaa's long time aide Sasikala, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had said that she should become general secretary and lead the AIADMK.

"There is no second opinion on the issue. If anyone has second thoughts, they are not true AIADMK workers," Jaya Plus Tamil TV channel had reported Panneerselvam as saying.

He had said that Sasikala imbibed the thoughts and working style of Jayalalithaa by being with her for over 30 years.

"Like Amma, Chinnamma (as Sasikala is referred to by party workers) knows each and every party worker. To ensure continuance of the party's functioning with the same level of discipline one can find in the army, brought about by Amma, the only way out in the present situation is for Chinnamma to become the general secretary and lead the party," he had said.

"To fill the void in the party created by the demise of Amma, AIADMK senior party leaders and ministers have urged Chinnamma to take on the mantle of general secretary," he had added, as per PTI.

Earlier, a plea urging her to step into the shoes of Jayalalithaa was made by a delegation of leaders including AIADMK presidium chairman E Madhusudanan and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Thambidurai when they had called on Sasikala at the Poes Garden residence of the late CM.

A host of state ministers, including Dindigul C Srinivasan and Electricity Minister P Thangamani have expressed similar sentiments in interviews to the channel.

Sasikala, 60, has been a close aide of Jayalalithaa for three decades and has always been seen as a power centre in the party.

(With PTI inputs)