V K Sasikala, a close associate of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, recently declared that despite the AIADMK’s recent electoral setback, she believes the party is not finished, asserting that her ‘comeback has started.’ She pledged to bring back Jayalalithaa’s governance by winning the 2026 Assembly elections.

She also asserted that she would question the government as the opposition party when Edappadi K Palaniswami did not ask the right questions in his capacity as opposition leader. After her unsuccessful attempts over a considerable period of time to regain control of the AIADMK led by Edappadi K Palaniswami, Sasikala, addressing her supporters, said the time is ripe for entry again.

Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Former AIADMK leader VK Sasikala says, “In 2026, Amma (Jayalalithaa govt) govt will come to power in Tamil Nadu with a huge majority. I have even planned to hold a campaign and meet people across the state…my political journey has begun” pic.twitter.com/PJzzXODad3

— ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2024

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“This is the time I have been telling you, there is no need for any concern,” she said, apparently referring to her efforts to unify the party, for which she had toured several regions of the state.

With the support of cadres and the people, ‘Amma’s’ regime will be brought back by winning the 2026 Assembly polls, Sasikala said. She announced her intention to soon begin a statewide tour, during which she will pose questions that the DMK government must answer.

Sasikala criticized the entry of ‘caste-based politics’ into the party (AIADMK), without naming anyone. She emphasized that such politics, which has entered the party nurtured by party founder MGR and the late matriarch ‘Amma’ Jayalalithaa, will not be tolerated by her and the party workers. She defended her decision to make Edappadi K Palaniswami Chief Minister in 2017, stating that it was done to provide representation to the state’s western region, which had consistently supported the party since the days of MGR.

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Today, she pointed out that the party had been pushed to third and fourth positions in the recent Lok Sabha polls and had also lost deposits in several seats.

Her criticism of ‘caste-based politics’ and the ‘poll debacle’ was aimed at Edappadi Palaniswami. In 2017, when she proposed Palaniswami for the post of Chief Minister, she held the party’s interim general secretary position, the top position at that time following Jayalalithaa’s death in December 2016.

Speaking to reporters, she responded to a question about the boycott of the Vikravandi bypoll, saying, “Boycotting the Vikravandi bypoll is not correct under the present circumstances.” Both the AIADMK and DMDK had decided to boycott the July 10 poll.

Targeting the ruling DMK regime on various issues, including bus procurement, she criticized, “If the leader of the opposition (Edappadi Palaniswami) does not ask the necessary questions, I am the opposition party and I am asking those questions.” She expressed confidence in uniting everyone, bringing together the AIADMK, and capturing power in the state.

Former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and his supporters were expelled by Edappadi Palaniswami, who later emerged as the sole leader at the helm of the AIADMK.

Years ago, Sasikala and her relatives, including TTV Dhinakaran, who later founded the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, were among those who were ousted from the party while Panneerselvam and Palaniswami continued to remain together.

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