V. K. Sasikala

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V. K. Sasikala
VK Sasikala Natarajan.jpg
Sasikala In Aiadmk 50th anniversary At Mgr's Ramapuram Memorial House.
General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office
31 December 2016 – 20 August 2017
DeputyT. T. V. Dhinakaran
Preceded byJ. Jayalalithaa
Succeeded byposition abolished
Personal details
Born
Vivekanandan Krishnaveni Sasikala

(1954-08-18) 18 August 1954 (age 67)
Thiruthuraipoondi, Thiruvarur, Madras State
(present day Tamil Nadu), India
NationalityIndian
Spouse(s)
M. Natarajan
​
​
(m. 1973; death 2018)​
Parent(s)
  • Vivekanandan Saluvar
  • Krishnaveni
Relatives
Residence179/68, Abibullla Road, T. Nagar Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Education10th std only
Alma materGovernment Woman School,Thiruduraipondi
Occupation
  • Politician
Signature
Websitepuratchithaai.com
Nickname(s)
  • Puratchi Thaai
  • Chinnamma
  • Singa Thaaragai

Vivekanandan Krishnaveni Sasikala (born 18 August 1954), also known by her married name Sasikala Natarajan, is an Indian politician who served as the generel secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK),a Dravidian party whose cadre revered her as their "Chinnamma" (Mother's sister) "Puratchi Thaai" (Revolutionary mother). She was a close aide of J. Jayalalithaa, the late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who headed the AIADMK from 1989 until her death in 2016. After Jayalalithaa's death, the party's general council elected her as the secretary general of AIADMK. In 2001, Jayalalithaa was disqualified from holding office and forced V.K.Sasikala Suggested O. Panneerselvam as Chief Minister of Tamilnadu And In 2017,Before going to Parapana Agharaha Jail, V.K.Sasikala appointed Edappadi Palanisamy as Chief Minister of Tamilnadu. But O Pannerselvam And Edappadi Palanisamy and his few Ministers betrayed her and removed her from the post and expelled her from the party on 20 August 2017.[1][2] After her expulsion she approached Chennai court over her removal as AIADMK General Secretary. This case is still pending for the Judgement [3]

Sasikala was backbone for former Tamilnadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. On 14 February 2017, a two-bench Supreme Court jury pronounced her guilty and ordered her immediate arrest in a disproportionate-assets case, effectively ending her chief ministerial ambitions. She was released in January 2021, and announced that till Tamilnadu General Election 2021 she will be calm for the good for the AIADMK party, but as AIADMK lost this election with O Pannerselvam And Edappadi Palanisamy, Sasikala was in pulled into the situation to start her second innings in the political journey.

Early life[]

Sasikala was born in a Tamil family from Chennai who later moved to Mannargudi.[4][5] Her marriage to M. Natarajan was presided over by DMK leader M. Karunanidhi.[6] Her husband, was a public relations officer in the Government of Tamil Nadu, who worked closely with the District Collector of Cuddalore, V. S. Chandralekha, who in turn was very close to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran. This helped Sasikala in gaining the friendship of Jayalalithaa and shaped her further life.[7]

Career[]

Early Career[]

In the early 1980s, through V. S. Chandralekha, who was then the District Collector of South Arcot, and a friend of M.Natarajan, Sasikala gained acquaintance with Jayalalithaa, who was then the Propaganda Secretary of the AIADMK. Since Sasikala helped in video coverage of party meetings and distribution of policies of AIADMK through CD's, Sasikala and Jayalalithaa gradually became very close.[8] After MGR's Death Sasikala Only with Jayalalitha.After, JJ Become General Secretary Of Aiadmk And Chief Minister Of Tamil Nadu, Sasikala Become a Powercentre.Jayalalithaa indulged in public displays of wealth, culminating in a lavish wedding for her foster son VN Sudhakaran (VK Sasikala's elder sister son) in 1995. In the 1996 election,AIADMK defeated ;The new Karunanidhi government filed several corruption cases against her and JJ.In June 20 1996,Sasikala Was arrested for some cases,she had to spend 1 year in jail.in 1997 she was realsed.In 1999,Jayalalithaa appeared in an episode of Rendezvous with Simi Garewal,She tells 'Sasikala Will My Second Mother'.In 2000, Sasikala acquitted in TANSI land acquisition case with Jayalalithaa.In 2001,Jayalalithaa was disqualified from holding office and forced ,Sasikala Was Suggested O. Panneerselvam as Chief Minister.In 2006,Sasikala Become Aiadmk General Council Member.

Temporary expulsion from AIADMK[]

On 19 December 2011, Jayalalithaa expelled Sasikala Natarajan and 13 others including Sasikala's husband M. Natarajan, T. T. V. Dhinakaran, their relatives, and Jayalalithaa's foster son V. N. Sudhakaran from the AIADMK.[9][10] This act of Jayalalithaa was considered a way to prove that she was not under the influence of Sasikala and her family. The matter was resolved by 31 March 2012, when Sasikala Natarajan was reinstated as a party member after issuing a written apology.[11]

General Secretary of AIADMK[]

In a meeting held on 29 December 2016 – the first meeting after Jayalalithaa's death on 5 December 2016 – the AIADMK general council appointed Sasikala as the party's general secretary.[12][13][14]

Chief Minister Elect of Tamil Nadu[]

On 5 February 2017, Sasikala was unanimously elected as the AIADMK Legislature Party Leader by a meeting of all the MLAs in the party.[15][16] Tamil Nadu Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao accepted the resignation of Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on 6 February 2017, and instructed him to continue to function as acting Chief Minister "until alternate arrangements are made". The Governor delayed announcing VK Sasikala as the new Chief Minister, waiting for the verdict of the disproportionate assets case on her. On February 14, 2017, VK Sasikala was convicted and sentenced to 4 years sentence in Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Jail and gave her 24 hours to surrender. The governor, then rejected her claims to become Chief Minister. VK Sasikala then convened the party's MLA council in her capacity as the General Secretary. There,She announced Edappadi K. Palanisamy was unanimously appointed as the new Chief Minister and he was sworn in the next day.[17]

Expulsion[]

On August 21, 2017, it was reported that the AIADMK faction loyal to Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, had decided to merge with the faction of O. Panneerselvam, and expel Sasikala as the General Secretary as it was one of the key demands for the merger.[18] It was reported on August 28 that Sasikala had been expelled during a party meeting,[19] but this was later clarified to be not true. Among the resolutions passed, the AIADMK declared that Sasikala's appointment as general secretary was disputable and as such, T. T. V. Dhinakaran's appointment as deputy general secretary, as well as his decisions were cancelled. It also decided to take over Jaya TV and Dr. Namadhu MGR newspaper, conduct a meeting of the general council per requests of party workers, celebrate M. G. Ramachandran's birth centenary in a lavish manner and keep the party united.[20]

On September 12, the AIADMK general council decided to cancel Sasikala's appointment as interim general secretary and expelled her from the party, though officials appointed to party posts by her were allowed to continue discharging their functions. Instead, the late J. Jayalalithaa was named the eternal general secretary of AIADMK.[21]

Reentering in politics[]

The expulsion of Sasikala and her family led to the new party Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam in March 2018. T. T. V. Dhinakaran was appointed as the general secretary of that party.[22]

After being released from jail, Sasikala announced her intention to return to active politics in February 2021. On March 3 however, she announced her decision to quit politics.[23]After that, Sasikala, who was talking to her supporters on her cell phone, went to the memorial of J.Jayalalithaa on October 16, 2021 and started a week-long political tour after paying tribute.

Conviction[]

Main article: Disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa

On 14 February 2017, the Supreme Court of India found Sasikala and her co-accused — Ilavarasi (her sister-in-law) and V. N. Sudhakaran (her nephew) — guilty of conspiring, laundering and amassing illicit wealth worth about ₹66.44 crore (equivalent to ₹309 crore or US$41 million in 2020) in the 1990s in a criminal conspiracy with Jayalalithaa. The three were sentenced to a four-year jail term.[24] This restored in toto her earlier conviction in the case[25] delivered on 27 September 2014,[26] sentencing a four-year jail term to her and her relatives, in addition to imposing a fine of ₹10 crore (US$1.3 million) each.[27] The judgment stipulated that she and her accomplices would serve an additional 12 months in prison if they failed to pay the fine.[28]

The Supreme Court refused her plea to surrender after a fortnight and to be allowed to have food from home,[29] so Sasikala and Ilavarasi presented themselves for imprisonment on 15 February 2017.[30] She was released on 27 January 2021 after completion of her term, though being kept at Victoria Hospital for treatment of COVID-19.[31]

In Popular Culture[]

In Queen Web Series Directed By Gautham Meon Viji Chandrasekhar Played a Role 'Suryakala' (2019).Also In Thalaivi Movie Directed By AL Vijay Shamna Kasim Played a Role 'Sasi' (2021). First In Thalaivi Movie Priyamani And Sai Pallavi was considered for the role of Sasikala.Titled The Iron Lady, Director Priyadhaarshini,the assistant director of Mysskin.Nithya Menen was signed on to play the Jayalalitha's role, while Aishwarya Rajesh and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar were in talks for a role for the character of Sasikala.Sasilalitha,Director K Jagadeswara Reddy Kajol and Amala Paul to play Jayalalithaa and Sasikala.

References[]

  1. ^ "AIADMK unanimously elects Sasikala as the party general secretary". New Indian Express. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Sasikala has accepted AIADMK general secretary post, Paneerselvam says". Julie Mariappan. The Times of India. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Sasikala holds legal discussions related to AIADMK general secretary case". Editor. DT Next. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  4. ^ "How Sasikala and 'Mannargudi mafia' strengthened clout in Tamil Nadu power play".
  5. ^ "The rise of Chinnamma". India Today. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  6. ^ Akash Bisht (6 December 2016). "Importance of being Sasikala: Will Jayalalithaa's confidante be her heir?". CatchNews.
  7. ^ Singh, Raj. "The complete story of Jayalalithaa and Sasikala Natarajan". indiatvnews.com. India TV News. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  8. ^ Warrier, Shobha (12 July 1996). "The many homes of Sasikala Natarajan". Rediff.
  9. ^ "Jaya expels close aide Sasikala, husband from AIADMK". IndianExpress. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  10. ^ Warrier, Shobha (22 December 2011). "'I don't know for how many days Sasikala's expulsion will last'". Rediff.
  11. ^ "Sasikala back at Poes Garden". The New Indian Express. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  12. ^ "V.K. Sasikala appointed as AIADMK general secretary". The Hindu. 29 December 2016.
  13. ^ "Spent 33 Years Looking After Amma: Sasikala's First Public Speech". The Quint. 31 December 2016.
  14. ^ "VK Sasikala Asked To Explain Her Appointment As General Secretary In AIADMK". NDTV.com. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  15. ^ Jesudasan, Dennis S. "Sasikala set to become Tamil Nadu Chief Minister". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  16. ^ "Sasikala Natarajan appointed as Legislature Party Leader, set to become Chief Minister".
  17. ^ "Governor accepts CMs resignation". Business Line. The Hindu.
  18. ^ "Sasikala to be expelled from AIADMK, OPS settles for deputy CM". The News Minute. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  19. ^ NARASIMHAN, T. E. (28 August 2017). "Ruling AIADMK expels Sasikala & Dhinakaran, plans to retrieve Jaya TV". Business Standard India.
  20. ^ Madhav, Pramodh (28 August 2017). "Sasikala still not expelled after meeting of merged AIADMK factions". India Today.
  21. ^ "AIADMK sacks Sasikala, says Jaya is 'eternal general secretary'". Deccan Chronicle. 12 September 2017.
  22. ^ [www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/ttv-dhinakaran-announces-party-name/article23250847./amp/ "T.T.V. Dhinakaran launches Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam"] Check |url= value (help). The Hindu.
  23. ^ "V K Sasikala says she is quitting politics ahead of Tamil Nadu polls". Livemint.
  24. ^ Ushinor, Majumdar. "What The SC Said About Jayalalithaa: She Was The Source Of Funds For Shell Companies". Outlook India. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  25. ^ Rajagopal, Krishnadas. "Jayalalithaa, Sasikala criminally conspired at Poes Garden to launder ill-gotten wealth: SC". The Hindu. New Delhi. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  26. ^ "Justice John D'Cunha: The no-nonsense judge who convicted Jayalalithaa". Firstpost. Bangalore. 29 September 2014. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  27. ^ Prathima, Nandakumar (15 February 2017). "Justice D'Cunha: A no-nonsense judge who convicted Jayalalithaa, Sasikala in 2014". The Week. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  28. ^ Pinaki Chandra Ghose; Amitava Roy (14 February 2017). "Crl.A.Nos.300–303 of 2017 etc. State of Karnataka Vs. Selvi J.Jayalalitha and Ors. (Judgment in Disproportionate Assets Case) [PDF] – 14-02-2017" (PDF). Supreme Court of India. p. 70. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  29. ^ "Sasikala surrenders in Bengaluru, sent to jail". The Tribune. Chennai/Bengaluru. PTI. 15 February 2017. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  30. ^ "V K Sasikala surrenders in Bengaluru court". Business Line. Chennai: The Hindu. PTI. 15 February 2017. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  31. ^ "V.K. Sasikala released from prison after serving 4-year term". The Hindu. Bangalore. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
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