Sasikala’s impending release: Will she knock on shut AIADMK door or force open Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence?

I remember the time when I stood outside late Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa’s residence at Poes Garden, Chennai, in 2017, when her close aide Sasikala was escorted in a vehicle to Bengaluru prison after being convicted in the disproportionate assets case. While I was doing my Facebook live, Poes Garden, the seat of power in Tamil Nadu then, stood vacant. AIADMK was struggling in the absence of a head to steer the party forward and it was split into two factions – one with Sasikala and another with one of the senior members of the party O Panneerselvam.

It’s been a good four years since the AIADMK pot was stirred, and a lot has changed. But the question now is whether Sasikala’s impending release will change the equation.

“AIADMK has been doing well on its own, and I personally don’t think the party needs any external influence,” said Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar, who bid farewell to politics after floating her own party initially. Her focus now is on “preserving the family heritage”.

The Tamil Nadu government has displayed keen interest in converting the heavily guarded residence Veda Nilayam (Jayalalithaa’s residence) into a memorial. This was challenged by the Poes Garden Residents Association claiming it would disrupt peaceful living in the residential area. However, the Madras High Court dismissed the petition and suggested that the 24,000 sq ft residence be put to use may be in the form of state chief minister’s official residence.

“Not just Tamil Nadu government, but people of the state want to see the residence as a memorial,” said D Jayakumar, AIADMK leader and minister. Is the government, headed by K Palaniswami, in a hurry to secure custody of Jayalalithaa’s home, since Sasikala, according to reports, is expected to be released from prison after October?

“Her release has nothing to do with this property,” the minister said. If not entry into the residence, will she seek entry into AIADMK? “Our party had then decided to have nothing to do with Sasikala and her family. AIADMK continues to remain firm with this decision,” added Jayakumar.

Deepa’s brother Deepak has moved the court seeking the keys to Veda Nilayam as both of them have been declared legal heirs of Jayalalithaa's properties by the court. “We, as legal heirs, will continue our efforts to retain the Poes Garden residence,” said Deepa, dismissing the fact that Sasikala’s release will impact the possession of Jayalalithaa’s property.

Though silent now, there is one political group in Tamil Nadu waiting for Sasikala’s comeback. The AMMK party, under the leadership of Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran, is bidding time. “We would like to comment only after Sasikala’s return from prison. For us, Chinamma (as Sasikala is fondly called) remains our leader,” said AMMK supporter CR Saraswathi.

Sasikala lived in this lavish residence of Jayalalithaa for nearly three decades. Sources say that she is close to Deepak too.

There was a time when even VVIPs couldn’t barge in without an invite. If there was one soul, who could surpass them all and overlook the three check-posts, it was Sasikala.

I, for one, will wait for my next opportune moment to meet you readers in my next FB live when Sasikala is escorted back to Chennai after her release from Bengaluru prison. So long, till then.