V. K. Sasikala

Summary

Vivekanandan Krishnaveni Sasikala (born 18 August 1954), also known by her married name Sasikala Natarajan, and often referred to by her initials VKS, is an Indian politician. She was a close associate of J. Jayalalithaa, the late chief minister of Tamil Nadu, who headed the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) from 1989 until her death in 2016. After Jayalalithaa's death, the party's general council elected her as a temporary secretary general of AIADMK. Before entering the Central Prison in Bangalore, Sasikala appointed Edappadi K. Palanisamy as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Palanisamy and other ministers removed her from the post and expelled her from the party in September 2017.[5][6] Her dismissal was upheld by the Madras High Court in December 2023.[7]

V. K. Sasikala
General Secretary of the Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam[1]
In office
15 March 2018 – 19 April 2019
DeputyT. T. V. Dhinakaran
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byT. T. V. Dhinakaran
Acting General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam[2][3]
In office
31 December 2016 – 17 February 2017
Preceded byJ. Jayalalithaa
Succeeded byEdappadi K. Palaniswami[4]
Member of the AIADMK Chief Executive Council
In office
17 December 2010 – 12 September 2017
Member of the AIADMK General Council
In office
10 October 2000 – 12 September 2017
Personal details
Born
Vivekanandan Krishnaveni Sasikala

(1954-08-18) 18 August 1954 (age 69)
Thiruthuraipoondi, Madras State
(present day Tamil Nadu), India
Other political
affiliations
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (until 2017)
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (2018–2021)
Spouse
M. Natarajan
(m. 1973; died 2018)
RelativesT. T. V. Dhinakaran (nephew)
Residence(s)Jayalalithaa Illam,
95, Poes Thottam, Teynampet, Chennai – 600086, Tamil Nadu, India

After her expulsion she went to court over her dismissal as AIADMK general secretary.[8] Her nephew T. T. V. Dhinakaran launched Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazhagam in March 2018, with Sasikala as its general secretary. Dhinakaran replaced her in April 2019.[1]

In February 2017, a two-bench Supreme Court jury pronounced Sasikala guilty and ordered her immediate arrest in a disproportionate-assets case, in which Jayalalithaa was also involved, effectively ending Sasikala's chief ministerial ambitions. She was released in January 2021.

Personal life edit

Sasikala was born on 18 August 1954 to C. Vivekanandam and V. Krishnaveni in Thiruthuraipoondi, located in the present-day Tiruvarur district. Her parents belonged to an influential Kallar family and later moved to Mannargudi.[9][10][11]

She had four brothers:[12] V. K. Dhivakaran,[13] T. V. Sundaravadanam (died in 2020),[14] Vinodhagan (died in 1993) and V. Jayaraman (died in 1991);[15][16] and one sister, B. Vanithamani[17] (died in 2011).[18] Her marriage to Maruthappa Natarajan in 1973 was presided over by DMK leader M. Karunanidhi.[19][20] Natarajan died on 20 March 2018.[21] The two did not have any children.[22]

Career edit

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam edit

 
Sasikala with Jayalalithaa in Early 2000s at Pasumpon Thevar Memorial

Sasikala's husband was a public relations officer in the government of Tamil Nadu, who worked closely with the district collector of South Arcot, V. S. Chandralekha, who in turn was very close to Tamil Nadu chief minister M. G. Ramachandran. These connections helped introduce Sasikala to J. Jayalalithaa, who was the propaganda secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) at the time.[23] Since Sasikala helped cover video of party meetings and distribution of policies of AIADMK through CDs, a friendship developed between the two and they became very close.[24]

Sasikala became the person most trusted by Jayalalithaa. After Ramachandran's death and the public humiliation of Jayalalithaa by AIADMK cadres who assaulted her at the funeral, Sasikala brought her relatives and 40 other people from Mannargudi for Jayalalithaa's protection. Jayalalithaa took control of AIADMK from Ramachandran's widow V. N. Janaki, and Sasikala moved into her Poes Garden residence in 1989. After Jayalalithaa became chief minister following the 1991 legislative assembly election, Sasikala's power and influence greatly increased, so much so that she was even more powerful than Jayalalithaa herself and the state ministers took orders directly from her.[23][25][26]

In 1995, the wedding for Sasikala's nephew V. N. Sudhakaran was held and generated significant controversy due to the extravagant display of wealth, with many people believing that the AIADMK government was significantly corrupt. Subramanian Swamy filed corruption cases against Jayalalithaa and her aides.[27] The AIADMK lost the 1996 legislative election, particularly due to Sasikala's display of her expensive jewelry.[24] Jayalalithaa had adopted Sudhakaran in 1995, but disowned him in 1996.[28]

P. Chidambaram, who had promised to hold Jayalalithaa and Sasikala accountable, had the latter investigated after assuming the position of finance minister for the union government in June 1996, leading to her arrest under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act.[29] Jayalalithaa distanced herself from Sasikala, but the two restored their friendship after Sasikala refused to implicate her and was released after ten months in prison.[10][19]

AIADMK helped bring Atal Bihari Vajpayee to power after the 1998 general election. In 1999, Sasikala helped organise a tea party for Swamy, who was upset with Vajpayee for not giving him the position of a cabinet minister. The party was attended by Jayalalithaa and Indian National Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. The AIADMK helped bring down Vajpayee's government within a few days as AIADMK withdrew its support from the coalition headed by him.[23]

On 19 December 2011, Jayalalithaa expelled Sasikala and 13 others, including Sasikala's husband, M. Natarajan, her nephew T. T. V. Dhinakaran, their relatives, and Jayalalithaa's foster son V. N. Sudhakaran from the AIADMK.[30][31] This act of Jayalalithaa's 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 was reinstated as a party member after issuing a written apology.[32]

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 temporary general secretary until a formal election was held for the post.[33][34][35]

On 5 February 2017, Sasikala was unanimously elected as the AIADMK Legislature Party Leader by a meeting of all the MLAs in the party.[36][37] Tamil Nadu governor C. Vidyasagar Rao accepted the resignation of Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on 6 February, and instructed him to continue functioning as acting chief minister "until alternate arrangements are made". The governor delayed announcing Sasikala as the new Chief Minister, waiting for the verdict of the disproportionate assets case against her. On 14 February 2017, Sasikala was convicted and sentenced to four years in Bangalore's Parappana Agrahara Jail and was given 24 hours to surrender. The governor rejected her claims to become chief minister. Sasikala then convened the party's MLA council in her capacity as the general secretary, where Edappadi K. Palaniswami was unanimously appointed as the new chief minister and sworn in the next day.[38]

Expulsion from AIADMK edit

On 21 August 2017, it was reported that the AIADMK faction loyal to Palaniswami had decided to merge with Panneerselvam's splinter faction and expelled Sasikala as the general secretary as one of the key demands of the merger.[39] It was reported on 28 August that Sasikala had been expelled during a party meeting,[40] but this was later denied.[3]

On 13 September, the AIADMK General Council cancelled 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 their duties. Instead, the late Jayalalithaa was named the eternal general secretary of AIADMK.[2] Sasikala filed a case in the City Civil Court IV of Chennai in February 2021, but it upheld her dismissal as the AIADMK general secretary in April 2022.[41] On 11 July, Palaniswami succeeded her as the interim general secretary of the party at a general council meeting.[42][43]

Among the resolutions passed during Sasikala's expulsion, the AIADMK declared that her 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.[3]

Her appeal against her expulsion from the AIADMK was rejected by the Madras High Court in December 2023.[44][7]

Imprisonment and return to politics edit

The expulsion of Sasikala and her family led to the creation of the Amma Makkal Munnettra Kahzagam (AMMK) on 15 March 2018 by T. T. V. Dhinakaran.[45] Sasikala held the post of general secretary until 19 April 2019 when Dhinakaran was elected to the position. He stated that she would function as the party's president after her release from jail in a disproportionate assets case.[1]

After being released from jail, Sasikala announced her intention to return to active politics in February 2021, but announced a change of mind on 3 March.[46] She did not support Dhinakaran when he decided that the AMMK would participate in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election alone.[47] After her release from jail, Panneerselvam was open to letting Sasikala back into the AIADMK, but was opposed by Palaniswami.[48]

Sasikala confirmed in May 2021 that she would return to active politics.[49] She later attempted to regain her political influence and released audio tapes on social media, calling on people to bring in a government modelled after Jayalalithaa's policies and push out "enemies and traitors". She also claimed that she stayed away from the AIADMK so Palaniswami and Panneerselvam would win the local elections and promised to unite the disputing factions of the party.[47]

Dhinakaran stated in July 2021 that Sasikala was trying to reclaim the AIADMK by winning over its cadres.[50] On 17 October she claimed that she was still the general secretary of AIADMK, and called on the party to unite for its sake as well as of the people.[51] On 26 June 2022, she began a political tour claiming that she was trying to protect the AIADMK.[52]

After the expulsion of Panneerselvam from AIADMK in July 2022 and Palaniswami becoming the interim general secretary of the party, Sasikala denounced Palaniswami's appointment to the position as invalid, and stated that he did not have any authority to expel Panneerselvam, while also claiming that the party cadres wanted her to become the general secretary.[53] After his expulsion was overturned by the Madras High Court in August 2022, Panneerselvam stated that he would meet with Sasikala and Dhinakaran to unite the AIADMK.[54] On 2 September 2022, a division bench of the Madras High Court upheld the decisions of the AIADMK general council meeting held on 11 July 2022 and set aside the previous court order of the single judge in the appeal case of Edappadi K. Palaniswami, thus effectively restoring unitary leadership.[55][56] The High Court order was upheld by the Supreme Court of India by rejecting the petitions of Panneerselvam on 23 February 2023.[57][58]

A commission probing Jayalalithaa's death recommended investigating Sasikala and others in a report submitted to the state government in August 2022.[59]

Conviction edit

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 363 crore or US$45 million in 2023) in the 1990s in a criminal conspiracy with Jayalalithaa. The three were sentenced to a four-year jail term,[60] restoring in toto her earlier conviction in the case[61] delivered on 27 September 2014.[62] She and her relatives were sentenced to a four-year jail term with a fine of 10 crore (US$1.3 million) each.[63] The judgment stipulated that she and her accomplices would serve an additional 12 months in prison if they failed to pay the fine.[64]

The Supreme Court refused her plea to surrender after a fortnight and to be allowed to have food from home,[65] so Sasikala and Ilavarasi presented themselves for imprisonment on 15 February 2017.[66] She was released on 27 January 2021 after her term elapsed, but was kept at Victoria Hospital to be treated for COVID-19.[67] Her conviction in the case made her ineligible from participating in an election until 27 January 2027.[68]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Dhinakaran elected AMMK general secretary". The Hindu. 20 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b "AIADMK sacks Sasikala, says Jaya is 'eternal general secretary'". Deccan Chronicle. 12 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "AIADMK general council meeting: Sasikala, Dinakaran sacked, Jayalalithaa to be 'eternal' party head". indiatoday. 12 September 2017.
  4. ^ MARIAPPAN, JULIE (28 March 2023). "EPS becomes AIADMK general secretary; OPS petition rejected in Madras HC". timesofindia.
  5. ^ "AIADMK unanimously elects Sasikala as the party general secretary". New Indian Express. 29 December 2016. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Sasikala has accepted AIADMK general secretary post, Paneerselvam says". Julie Mariappan. The Times of India. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Madras High Court dismisses V.K. Sasikala's claim over AIADMK general secretary post". The Hindu. 5 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Sasikala holds legal discussions related to AIADMK general secretary case". Editor. DT Next. 14 July 2021. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  9. ^ "How Sasikala and 'Mannargudi mafia' strengthened clout in Tamil Nadu power play". 15 February 2017.
  10. ^ a b "The rise of Chinnamma". India Today. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  11. ^ "TN only State to have had 3 women CMs". The New Indian Express. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  12. ^ N. Sundaresha Subramanian (14 December 2016). "Liquor, TV, jazz lend a Midas touch to Sasikala Inc". Business Standard. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  13. ^ "No wrong in teaming up with DMK: VK Dhivakaran". Deccan Herald. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  14. ^ "V K Sasikala bereaved after brother's death". Press Trust of India. Deccan Herald. 14 November 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  15. ^ "DISPROPORTIONATE ASSETS". Goan Observer. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  16. ^ "DIVIDENDS OF FRIENDSHIP: The fortunes of Sasikala's family". India Today. 15 April 1995. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Madras High Court Confirms Jail Term For VK Sasikala's Family In Assets Case". Press Trust if India. NDTV. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  18. ^ "CM likely to attend Sasikala's sister's funeral". The Times of India. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  19. ^ a b Anna Isaac (3 March 2021). "The rise and fall of VK Sasikala". The News Minute. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  20. ^ Uma Sudhir (20 March 2018). "VK Sasikala's Husband Natarajan Maruthappa Dies At 74 In Chennai". Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Sasikala's husband Natarajan dies: Man who desired to be more than a shadow player". The News Minute. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  22. ^ "All about Sasikala Inc!". N. Sundaresha Subramanian. Rediff. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  23. ^ a b c Singh, Raj (26 September 2013). "The complete story of Jayalalithaa and Sasikala Natarajan". indiatvnews.com. India TV News. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  24. ^ a b Warrier, Shobha (12 July 1996). "The many homes of Sasikala Natarajan". Rediff.
  25. ^ "Sasikala quits politics: The rise and fall of 'Chinnamma' of Tamil Nadu". DNA. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  26. ^ "5 times Jayalalithaa was publicly humiliated". 6 December 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  27. ^ "1995 lavish wedding that entangled Jayalalithaa in 18-yr-long trial". The Times of India. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  28. ^ "Son-for-one-year: Why did Jayalalithaa disown foster son Sudhakaran?". Asianet News. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  29. ^ G. C. Shekhar (15 July 1996). "Sasikala's arrest likely to open up probe into corruption during Jayalalitha's rule". India Today. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  30. ^ "Jaya expels close aide Sasikala, husband from AIADMK". IndianExpress. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  31. ^ Warrier, Shobha (22 December 2011). "'I don't know for how many days Sasikala's expulsion will last'". Rediff.
  32. ^ "Sasikala back at Poes Garden". The New Indian Express. 3 April 2012. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  33. ^ "V.K. Sasikala appointed as AIADMK general secretary". The Hindu. 29 December 2016.
  34. ^ "Spent 33 Years Looking After Amma: Sasikala's First Public Speech". The Quint. 31 December 2016.
  35. ^ "VK Sasikala Asked To Explain Her Appointment As General Secretary In AIADMK". NDTV.com. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  36. ^ Jesudasan, Dennis S. "Sasikala set to become Tamil Nadu Chief Minister". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  37. ^ "Sasikala Natarajan appointed as Legislature Party Leader, set to become Chief Minister".
  38. ^ "Governor accepts CMs resignation". Business Line. The Hindu.
  39. ^ "Sasikala to be expelled from AIADMK, OPS settles for deputy CM". The News Minute. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  40. ^ NARASIMHAN, T. E. (28 August 2017). "Ruling AIADMK expels Sasikala & Dhinakaran, plans to retrieve Jaya TV". Business Standard India.
  41. ^ "TN court upholds decision to remove Sasikala as AIADMK general secretary". Press Trust of India. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022 – via Onmanorama.
  42. ^ "AIADMK general council anoints Edappadi K Palaniswami as party interim general secretary". The Times of India. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  43. ^ "AIADMK Tussle: Court Setback For OPS, Rival EPS Takes Charge". ndtv. 11 July 2022.
  44. ^ "Madras High Court dismisses V.K. Sasikala's claim over AIADMK general secretary post". The Hindu. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  45. ^ "TTV Dhinakaran Launches Amma Makkal Munneetra Kazagam". The Hindu. 15 March 2018.
  46. ^ "V K Sasikala says she is quitting politics ahead of Tamil Nadu polls". Livemint. 3 March 2021.
  47. ^ a b Archana R. (12 July 2021). "In Sasikala-Dhinakaran Battle, AMMK Cadres Are in Chaos in Tamil Nadu". News18. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  48. ^ Divya Chandrababu (23 July 2022). "Sasikala backs Panneerselvam's son, hits out at Palaniswami". Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  49. ^ "Expelled AIADMK leader Sasikala hints at returning to active politics". India TV. 30 May 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  50. ^ "Retrieving AIADMK is V K Sasikala's mission: T T V Dhinakaran". The Times of India. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  51. ^ "Sasikala hoists party flag at MGR memorial, unveils plaque naming her AIADMK general secretary". The Indian Express. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  52. ^ "Sasikala begins road show". The Hindu. 26 June 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  53. ^ "EPS' interim General Secy post invalid, I must be made leader: Sasikala". Indo-Asian News Service. Business Standard. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  54. ^ "Will soon meet Sasikala, Dhinakaran to unite AIADMK: Panneerselvam". Press Trust of India. Business Standard. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  55. ^ "அதிமுக பொதுக்குழு செல்லும்; தனி நீதிபதி உத்தரவு ரத்து". News7 Tamil. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  56. ^ S, Mohamed Imranullah (2 September 2022). "AIADMK leadership tussle: Division Bench of Madras High Court reverses earlier order in favour of OPS". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  57. ^ "அ.தி.மு.க. பொதுக்குழு செல்லும்; இடைக்கால பொதுச்செயலாளராக எடப்பாடி பழனிசாமி தேர்ந்து எடுத்தது செல்லும்- சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட்டு". Dina Thanthi (in Tamil). 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  58. ^ "Supreme Court rejects Paneerselvam's plea, Palaniswamy to continue as AIADMK general secretary". indianexpress. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  59. ^ "Tamil Nadu: J Jayalalithaa death probe panel for inquiry against VK Sasikala". The Times of India. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  60. ^ Ushinor, Majumdar. "What The SC Said About Jayalalithaa: She Was The Source Of Funds For Shell Companies". Outlook India. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  61. ^ 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.
  62. ^ "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.
  63. ^ 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.
  64. ^ 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.
  65. ^ "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.
  66. ^ "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.
  67. ^ "V.K. Sasikala released from prison after serving 4-year term". The Hindu. Bangalore. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  68. ^ Mohamed Imranullah S. (1 February 2021). "Sasikala can't contest polls till 2027". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 August 2022.

External links edit