Rules will be relaxed to make Sasikala AIADMK general secretary: Ponnaiyan

CHENNAI: Rejecting allegations against former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s aide V.K. Sasikala as ‘absurd and false’, AIADMK spokesperson C. Ponnaiyan on Thursday asserted that party rules would be relaxed to elect 'chinna amma' as the general secretary.

“Those who are jealous of Sasikala are raising unnecessary issues to split the AIADMK and freeze its symbol”, he told reporters here. There is no opposition to Sasikala's succession as AIADMK general secretary from the rank and file, he said and added that the party rules would be relaxed to make her the general secretary. He also informed that the party's general council and executive committee would be convened to take the decision.

He said Sasikala has the full qualification to take over the leadership of AIADMK as she was 'the shadow and conscience' of Jayalalithaa and was instrumental in her rise in politics. Sasikala left her family and lived a life of sacrifice for the former AIADMK chief, he said. When Jayalalithaa entered the AIADMK, the party had a membership of 30 lakh and it increased to 1.5 crore by Jayalalithaa assisted by Sasikala. “What more qualification is required?”, he asked.