VK Sasikala has been cautious about taking on the mantle of party general secretary

CHENNAI: Despite the party’s senior and middle-level leadership expressing their support, VK Sasikala does not appear to be in a hurry to become AIADMK general secretary. The AIADMK general council is scheduled to meet on December 29, but Sasikala has been cautious about taking on the mantle of party general secretary right away, say partymen.

On Friday evening, secre taries of AIADMK’s 50 districts met at the party headquarters in Chennai to discuss the general council meeting and the key issue of leadership transition. “The executive committee and general council meeting have been scheduled for December 29 and secretaries have been given the job of informing members in their districts,” AIADMK spokesman Dheeran told TOI. On the morning of the same day , the party’s executive committee would meet, he said.

“AIADMK has decided that Chinnamma should be the general secretary . This was also discussed at the district secretaries meeting that took place between 4pm and 6pm today .There is not a single voice of dissent. It is now up to her to convey her decision,” said Dheeran, adding that the general council was firm in its resolve to endorse Sasikala. A senior leader said, “Chinnamma seems to be in no hurry. She has not given any one even a small indication of what is on her mind. She has given a patient hearing to everyone. But, we are waiting for her decision,” he said on condition of anonymity .

Under the circumstances, the AIADMK general council led by party presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan may go ahead with its meeting during which it would pay tributes to Jayalalithaa and vow to continue her legacy. The meeting is likely to be a low-key affair with the general council passing a few resolutions relating to issues of larger public interest. In effect, the meeting may end up being a formality to fulfill the demands of the party bylaws that mandate a general council meeting every year.

A hitch in AIADMK’s grand plans is Rajya Sabha MP and expelled AIADMK member Sasikala’s Pushpa’s civil suit challenging the proposed move of the general council to amend its bylaws to elect Sasikala as its new general secretary. A single judge reserved his orders on Friday after hearing arguments of senior counsel of Madhusudhanan and Sasikala Pushpa.While orders are expected soon, Sasikala may prefer to avoid any controversy in her smooth ascension.

Since Jayalalithaa’s death on December 5, a large cross-section of people, including AIADMK partymen, have called on Sasikala conveying their condolences and urging her to lead the party and the administration. Ministers, MLAs and various wings of the party have issued statements and passed resolutions, urging her to become chief minister.

Bureau Report