CHENNAI: Sasikala Natarajan steps out, on her own. Even if it is was only a condolence call, the visit of Sasikala to the residence of Cho Ramaswamy to pay her last respects and console his family can be easily interpreted as her first step to engage in the socio-political events and seek to spear the developments in the state.
Later in the day, she presided over a crucial meeting of senior ministers and AIADMK functionaries at the Poes Garden bungalow. All these years since coming to J Jayalalithaa’s life in early 1980s, Sasikala has been content being in the shadows of ‘Akka’ (Jayalalithaa) and became indispensable for the late Chief Minister maintaining her house and even giving her medicines. It is common knowledge that she wielded enormous power, particularly during the last few months when Jayalalithaa’s health started deteriorating.
The ultimate demonstration that it will be Sasikala who will be calling the shots was evident on the steps of Rajaji Hall, when she stood by the head of the late Chief Minister and receiving every visiting dignitary. One after the other, everyone went up to her to console.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi went a step ahead by placing his hand affectionately on her head as she broke down. Ministers were prominent in the steps below, while relatives of Sasikala dominated the area around the casket.
Sasikala, who hails from a lower middle class family in Mannargudi, moved to Chennai with her husband M Natarajan, a government PRO, and chose the business of video renting, besides buying a video camera and started shooting marriages in her locality.
When Jayalalithaa, the then propaganda secretary of AIADMK campaigned in the 1984 Assembly and Parliament elections. Sasikala offered to videograph issues for electioneering.
Slowly, she entered the good books of the AIADMK leader and gained entry into Poes Garden. Over a period of time, Sasikala became the most trusted companion of Jayalalithaa and stood by her in good times as well as bad times. With the swearing-in of O Pannerselvam as Chief Minister on Monday night, the issue of succession to the party leadership has cropped up.
It is very unlikely that any would oppose Sasikala emerging as a power centre if not the General Secretary of the party immediately, considering that ministers and district secretaries were handpicked by Jayalalithaa and insiders swear Sasikala’s influence was evident in every appointment.
