Sasikala Natarajan looks set for top party post

Chennai: With the question of a replacement to the Chief Minister’s post having been settled, albeit for now, the AIADMK’s focus now shifts to the crucial and all-powerful post of general secretary of the 45-year-old party after the demise of J. Jayalalithaa who held both posts.

For the first time in the history of the ruling party, its constitution and the general secretary post become important unlike in the past when the dual posts were held by charismatic leaders like M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa ever since the inception of the AIADMK.

Considering that ministers and district secretaries used to be handpicked by Jayalalithaa even as insiders swore Sasikala’s influence was evident in each appointment, it is very unlikely that anyone would now oppose Ms Sasikala emerging as the de facto power centre as the general secretary of the party.

Only if Ms Sasikala decides to stay away from the limelight, which seems unlikely given that she emerged on Wednesday, just a day after the emotional farewell to Jayalalithaa, to pay a condolence visit on Cho’s demise, would Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai emerge as a compromise candidate. However, he is considered a “Delhi man” who is thought to be close to the BJP. Mr Thambidurai’s entry is only speculation at the moment as Ms Sasikala is still favourite to stake a claim for Jayalalithaa’s General Secretary post and take it too.

Ms Sasikala is in full control of the AIADMK as was evident from the fact that she convened a meeting of senior ministers and party functionaries on Wednesday evening.  The constitution of the AIADMK becomes important at this crucial juncture as it says the post could be filled by convening a general council meeting, which is expected to be held only towards the end of the month, as has been the practice in the AIADMK. The year 2014 was about the only one in which the general council was not held as Jayalalithaa was then embroiled in court cases.