Chennai: Sasikala Natarajan, close friend of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, took over the reins of the ruling AIADMK with party leaders unanimously electing her as general secretary of the 44-year-old Dravidian party at its general council meeting on Thursday.
A resolution to this effect was adopted unanimously in the general council meet held here today. The post fell vacant following the demise of party general secretary and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
Party treasurer and Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said, "In tune with party rules, honourable Chinnamma is appointed AIADMK General Secretary and a resolution to this effect has been adopted unanimously by the general council."
Speaking to reporters flanked by senior leaders Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai and State Minister Edappadi Palanisamy, he said they were going to meet "Chinamma" to "apprise her of the party decision and to seek her concurrence," for the party decision.
Significantly, the resolution that was adopted says, "This general council adopts this resolution appointing Chinnamma VK Sasikala as the party general secretary till such time she is (formally) elected to that post in tune with party rule 20, clause 2."
Hailing Sasikala's contribution to the growth of the party, the resolution also says it "unanimously gives her all the powers bestowed on the position of general secretary (by the party rules) to administer the party."
The resolution was moved by party presidium chairman E Madusudanan and Chief Minister O Panneersevlam and Edapadi Palanisamy.
The resolution makes it clear that Sasikala will be formally elected as party General Secretary at a later date in keeping with the stipulations of the party constitution. Till such time she is elected, the party has appointed her to the post giving her all powers of that post.
A resolution condoling the passing away of Jayalalithaa was adopted following which the general council members observed silence and paid tributes to the departed leader Jayalalithaa.
14 resolutions were passed in AIADMK general body meet. Resolution demanding Jayalalithaa's birthday be celebrated as 'National Farmers Day' was also adopted.
Another resolution to confer Jayalalithaa with Magsaysay Award and Nobel Prize for World Peace was passed in the meeting.
At the meeting, the chair used by late Jayalalithaa was placed at the centre with her picture, implying that she was still the supreme leader of the party.
Ministers, party headquarters functionaries, MPs, MLAs, members of the general council and executive committee, besides members from all the party wings, have been crowding the Poes Garden bungalow almost immediately after Jayalalithaa was laid to rest at the Marina on December 6, to plead with Sasikala to become party general secretary.
This is the first general council meeting of the party after the demise of its charismatic leader Jayalalithaa, who had held the all-powerful position as general secretary till death.
The venue of the meeting, Srivaru Venkatachalapathi Kalyana Mandapan sported life size hoardings of a smiling Jayalalithaa waving to party workers in the departed leader's favourite green colour.
The general council members include all MLAs, MPs, headquarters secretaries, district secretaries and their deputies, besides leaders of various wings and secretaries of party units in towns and unions.
On Wednesday, AIADMK cadres had allegedly attacked and injured the husband of expelled party MP Sasikala Pushpa, who was accused of trying to create a law-and-order problem ahead of the General Council meeting here.
