AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha could land up in trouble in either ways with the expulsion of her long time aid Sasikala and co, who were termed as 'Mannargudi Mafia,' by party sources. Infact Sasikala’s hubby Mr. Natrajan, who wielded the dominant power in the party before the dismissal, is to speak to reporters today at Thanjavur.
Sources have revealed that Natarajan will speak all on the controversial topic during his annual three-day Pongal celebrations he holds in Thanjavur. The occasion will also see the first public appearance of some of the expelled family members of Sasikala. 15 members of the family were stripped off their primary membership from the party.
Ms. Jayalalitha planned a strategically phase-out for expulsion. First the CM removed officials in key positions who were seen as pliable to Sasikala and her family. Next, the axe fell on the party functionaries who were hobnobbing with them. The main reason for expulsion, as per sources, was after it was found that they were exercising their iron hand over party affairs and becoming a parallel head of the party, beside Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. The drastic action against Sasikala, who had enjoyed absolute confidence of Jayalalithaa, was announced in a brief statement by Jayalalithaa, who also told her party men not to have any truck with the expelled members.
When did the CM get the whiff of trouble brewing?
Thanks to, the BJP Chief Minister in Karnataka, timely advice of the storm brewing up in a tea-cup in the form of Sasikala’s Team. Sources close to Mr. Gowda gave a detailed report about the activities of Sasikala at Bangalore while attending, the along with Ms. Jayalalithaa, in the latter’s disproportionate assets case. As per sources Sasikala was sure that Ms. Jayalalithaa was to get convicted in the case and on moral grounds will have to resign. Given that situation, she will have to nominate a new CM, to stay on guard, till she returns clean.
In this situation, being close to the Amma, would tilt the scales to one of their family members, and this could mean entering into main fray. Till day they acted as second fiddle to the CM, but this opportunity could pave way for a greater position. And with this position they also planned to make sure that she would never be able to come out of the entire process. The first sight of treachery came to the CM notice when Sasikala and co had a grand gala party in her absence at Bangalore.
The CM immediately sent her intelligence team on a witch hunt to gauge the precise moments of the betrayers and the following issues came to limelight as per the grapevine.
• They had in their position approximately 67 AIADMK MLA’s to support their coup. Because most of them had got their tickets on the blessings of Sasikala.
• The numbers could build up once their expected verdict comes out.
• The betrayers were closely in consultations with the DMK leaders’ as well. And even close with Madurai strongman and Karunanidhi’s son, Union Minister M K Alagiri.
• Sasikala’s team was working round the clock, with all concerned, of how to face the situation in the absence of Amma.
• They made several consultations for garnering the support of the MLA’s, to consolidate their stakes.
Gathering the substantial evidence from the intelligent agencies, Ms. Jayalalithaa started working her own strategy and planned a phase wise expulsion. The first impression she explicitly expressed on her long time aid was when both landed at Chennai airport after attending the trail at Bangalore.
As soon as the CM arrived she drove in her convoy to her Poes Garden residence leaving Sasikala stranded. And when Sasikala called the CM about the move, she was asked to take a cab home. Immediately after reaching the Poes Garden residence, Sasikala, was asked to pack her belongings and leave the CM’s house. Sasikala stayed with her family in a friend’s house, for a couple of days only to receive a rude shock of her life in the form of expulsion.
How does the CM justify her action?
`Action is taken only against those who make mistakes. There's nothing wrong if those expelled join other parties. But when they say they continue to have clout in our party it's a problem,’ said the CM.
Will they expelled expose the CM?
A close friend of Natarajan has been quoted as saying, "We expect Natarajan to speak about the sacrifices her wife made for Jayalalithaa and for the party. He himself has criticized some of the expelled family members' role in the past.
So as per the available facts as of the moment will the Sasikala and co take a softer stand, which would earn them a back door entry into the CM’s lobby (or) will they fight with their `Thevar’ vote bank in a straight battle with the CM. Much depends on today’s meeting and would consolidate with the turn of the assets case, in the coming months. It may also be noted that in 1996, soon after her electoral debacle, Jayalalithaa ‘disowned’ her friend, accusing her of making ‘some mistakes’. But the estrangement lasted only for a brief while with the two friends making up and getting back together. To keep updated on the developments in Tamil Nadu keep watching this space. (AarKay)
