In what appears to be an act of desperation by the ruling AIADMK faction led by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar on Thursday released two CDs ‘exposing’ the late Chief Minister’s take on VK Sasikala’s family.
Hitting out at sidelined Deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran, Udhayakumar said that Jayalalithaa’s soul wouldn’t have mercy on those who tried to split the party.
“How would Amma's soul have mercy on these actions? Aren't these actions of betrayal against Amma?” asked the Minister.
Udhayakumar, who was the first AIADMK leader to demand Sasikala be made General Secretary and Chief Minister following Jayalalithaa’s demise, was equally quick to switch loyalties to CM Edappadi Palaniswami.
One of the CDs released by the Minister is an old video clip from December 2011, where Jayalalithaa speaks to party leaders following the expulsion of her aide Sasikala and her family members from the party.
“But there are some other people – they made mistakes, their betrayal was brought to light and they were kicked out of the party. Despite this, they insistently keep contacting people in the party, saying they will come back inside once again, that they will once again wield influence... That if we go against them right now, they will take revenge at a later date... ‘So don't be on our wrong side,’ they warn. The people who speak this way, who raise suspicion about the leadership of the party, will never be forgiven. Not just them, even party workers who listen to them and act as per their wishes will never be forgiven,” says Jayalalithaa to party leaders.
Citing the former CM’s words from December 2011, Udhayakumar told media persons, “Those Jayalalithaa expelled now confuse cadre after her death.” Taking a dig at Dhinakaran for his recent reorganisation in the party, including a series of new appointments along with expulsions, Udhayakumar said, “They trigger street fights among cadre by luring them with positions. AIADMK should not be sacrificed for a few
Sasikala, along with several members of her family, were expelled by Jayalalithaa from the party and from her Poes Garden residence in December 2011 for conspiring against her. However, what the Revenue Minister failed to mention was that Sasikala returned Jayalalithaa’s side in 100 days, after a penning a moving letter that was broadcast on Jaya TV.
(The story was originally published in The News Minute)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)