New Delhi: Expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala on Tuesday announced the launch of a new party, saying that she would no longer remain silent after “nine years” and vowing to reclaim political space ahead of the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu this year.
Addressing a public meeting in Ramanathapuram on the occasion of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s 78th birth anniversary, Sasikala unveiled her party flag bearing images of CN Annadurai (Anna), MG Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa. She did not announce the party’s name though.
“For now, I am only introducing the party flag. I have not yet announced the party’s name. I will announce it soon. There will be no change in this decision,” she said.
‘Won’t remain silent now’
“I have 39 years of political experience. I waited nine years until this moment. This moment belongs to us. From the branch-level cadres to all my party members living across Tamil Nadu, everyone has the right to this flag,” she said.
Announcing the formation of the party, Sasikala said, “If I continue to remain silent as I have for the past nine years, it would amount to a betrayal of the people of Tamil Nadu. Therefore, for the sake of the people of Tamil Nadu and our party cadres, we are going to launch a new party.”
“We are starting a new Dravidian party that will follow the path of Perarignar Anna, Puratchi Thalaivar MGR, and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma. It will function as a party for the poor and common people and will uproot enemies and traitors,” she added.
Sasikala accuses EPS of betrayal
She also launched a scathing attack on AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami aka EPS, Sasikala accused him of betrayal and claimed the party had declined under his leadership.
“We hastily chose him as chief minister. I do not even wish to mention his name. If he had been a good person, I would have said his name,” she said.
“When he became chief minister, I did not fully know what kind of person he was. I made him sit in the chief minister’s chair and left. But what kind of person would he be if he passed a resolution to remove me?” she asked.
Tamil Nadu to go to polls this year
She further alleged that there were plans to arrest her at the Tamil Nadu border after her release from prison. “He was of the mindset that no senior leaders should remain in the party and that everyone should be removed. Because of this attitude, the party has been steadily declining,” she said.
Attacking the current leadership, Sasikala said, “So far, the AIADMK has faced defeat ten times and has not won even a single election. The functioning of the opposition has been extremely poor.”
Tamil Nadu will go to polls this year and with the entry of Sasikala it would be interesting to see who emerges out as winner as the voters currently have too many choices. For the past several elections the fight has been mainly between DMK and AIADMK and its alliance partners but with the entry of actor Vijay in the political fray, experts are predicting a triangular fight.