AIADMK General Secretary

While speculations are going around in ruling AIADMK over who would succeed Jayalalithaa, as party General Secretary, a news was spread party seniors have decided today making her as General Secretary of the party. They have also reportedly decided to hand over all control over the party to her.

Just few hours ago dismissing speculation over party key position, party organising secretary and spokesperson C Ponnaiyan announced that since the party has announced seven days mourning, party affairs would begin after the mourning period. However, party later announced entrusting all responsibilities of the party to her.

However by the afternoon, ahead of the first cabinet meeting, an announcement was made from the official Twitter account of the party stating that senior functionaries of AIADMK have urged V.K. Sasikala to lead the party “on the path shown by Puratchi Thalaivi Amma.” It was also announced she would lead the party. This news was also telecasted from official Jaya tv channel.

Though there is no clarity how this decision was taken, it seems few senior leaders of party, who were loyal to her, made this announcement at a time some seniors are reportedly threatening that her `selection’ would lead to division in the party.

Ponnaiyan has given clear indication in the morning itself should would be possible successor to Jayalalithaa. He said “Sasikala Amma lived with Puratchi Thalaivi Amma’s (revolutionary leader Jayalalithaa’s) last breath”.

Interestingly, with regard to visit of Chief Minister and other ministers to her, he cleverly said they went there to pay homage to Jayalalithaa, but not to meet Sasikala. Asked who the chief minister, ministers and other top officials are consulting by visiting the Poes Garden residence of the departed AIADMK supremo and if it was Sasikala, he said, “They are having a meeting with the Chief Minister there.”

“It (Veda Nilayam at Poes Garden) is Amma’s house where Amma’s portrait is there… We are in mourning and it is still not over… They are going there (also) to pay homage… It is not good to invent imaginative reasons for everything.