Chinnamma all set to don Amma’s hat: Emergence of VK Sasikala in Tamil Nadu political arena

In a major reshuffle in the political arena of Tamil Nadu, Vivekanandan Krishnaveni Sasikala, or fondly termed as Chinnamma (little mother)  was elected as the leader of the AIADMK legislature party and is all set to be sworn in as the new Chief Minister of  Tamil Nadu in Chennai on Monday.

After a much-anticipated AIADMK meet on Sunday, the party MLAs elected Sasikala as their leader after the incumbent Chief Minister O Paneerselvam proposed her name and subsequently submitted his resignation to governor Vidyasagar Rao.

Speculations were rife among the party cadre and many senior party leaders wish for the same person to lead the AIADMK party and the government. As the new AIADMK General Secretary after J Jayalalithaa’s demise, the closest person to the former iconic leader of Tamil Nadu Sasikala was the obvious choice to take over the reins of political administration of the state.  

Ups and downs in Tamil Nadu politics after Jayalalithaa’s demise

It has exactly been two months after Tamil Nadu’s beloved ‘Amma’ took her last breath and since then politics in the southern coastal state has not been stable.

It was O Pannerselvam, the man who always took a change of the government whenever Jayalalithaa went out of CM office, was named the Chief Minister of Tamil soon after Amma’s demise. 

Also read: Tamil Nadu gets new 'Amma' as Chinnamma Sasikala set to take oath as new chief minister today

Meanwhile, Sasikala was named as the new General Secretary of the AIADMK after the party cadre requested her to run the party on the lines of inspiration from Jayalalithaa. 

But exactly two months after that, the new sun has risen in the political arena of Tamil Nadu with Jayalalitha’s close aide and confidant VK Sasikala came into the fray to take control over administration in the AIADMK first and now all set to take over reigns of Tamil Nadu government.

Since Sasikala has been elevated to the post of AIADMK General Secretary on December 29, political cadre and senior leaders have been voicing Sasikala’s need and demand to take over the reins of the government.

As of now, a political amateur, Sasikala is not a member of the legislative Assembly and has to get elected as an MLA within the next six months. It is also rumoured that she will contest from the same seat ie, RK Nagar constituency held by late CM Jayalalithaa.

How Sasikala became Tamil Nadu CM in fray

From a humble beginning as a video rental shop owner in Mylapore in Chennai to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Sasikala’s political journey has been full of ups and downs.

Also read: In Tamil Nadu, it’s Sasikala vs Sasikala: Expelled AIADMK MP opposes change of CM

Born into a modest family in Mannargudi, a small town in Tamil Nadu on January 29th,1956,  Sasikala was married to Natarajan after her graduation. Her parents, though not very rich, belonged to the influential Kallar community.  She owes it to an IAS officer VS Chandralekha for introducing her to then AIADMK propaganda secretary J Jayalalithaa.

Sasikala was first introduced to Jayalalithaa by IAS officer VS Chandralekha when she was AIADMK propaganda secretary J Jayalalithaa. Working as a video recorder, she was assigned to cover political rallies and public events. 

Sasikala’s husband M Natarajan’s role

VS Chandralekha had hired Natarajan as her public relations officer (PRO) who then requested her to introduce Sasikala to Jayalalithaa. The contract to cover Jayalalithaa’s tour went successful and Jayalalithaa was really impressed by Sasikala’s work and that how their friendship blossomed afterwards.

How did Sasikala and Jayalalithaa's friendship grow?

With time, both the ladies became good friends as Jayalalithaa started terming Sasikala as her sister. She soon took her to her residence Pois Garden and Saskikala with her husband and few of their aides started residing with Jayalalithaa. Sasikala even took the charge to run Jayalalithaa’s household. 

Jayalalithaa even adopted Sasikala’s nephew Sudhakaran and even arranged a grand wedding for him.

Also read: AIADMK leader VK Sasikala's husband M Natarajan hospitalised for breathing trouble

After Jayalalithaa’s political mentor MGR died in 1987, Sasikala is said to have offered emotional support to Amma. In 1989, when Sasikala moved into Poes Garden she is reported to have got 40 domestic helps with her from her hometown.

When Jayalalithaa ousted Sasikala out of Pois Garden

There came a bittersweet moment in Jayalalithaa and Sasikala’s life in 2011 when Sasikala was dramatically ousted from the Poes Garden residence.

This shocking decision was taken by Jayalalithaa on the account of reports that Sasikala and her supporters were planning and plotting to seize power after the former was arrested on the gounds of corruption charges. At that time Jayalalithaa expelled Sasikala and 14 others from her family. However, this didn’t last long and Sasikala soon returned in the good books of Jayalalithaa. Though her husband remained sidelined from the mainstream.