Sasikala’s Final Deceit? A Midnight Swearing-In & a Family Reunion

As the dust around the death of J Jayalalithaa settles, the focus is now slowly shifting to the political events of December 5 and 6, and how her closest aide, Sasikala, acted during the late Tamil Nadu CM’s illness and in the immediate aftermath of her death.

Some of the questions swirling around: What was the need to hold a swearing-in ceremony in the middle of the night? And why is Sasikala back with her family, in the open?

The death of the Chief Minister was a shocking development, even though she had been admitted to hospital for 75 days. The wave of sadness and disbelief that it triggered, among both her followers and detractors, is testimony to that. But has the secrecy which shrouded Jayalalithaa’s illness acted as a cloak for people with vested interests? Has it enabled the Sasikala family to bulldoze its way through the party and the Tamil Nadu government?

Also Read: In Jayalalithaa’s TN, It Is Sasikala’s Family That Runs the State

What has raised immediate suspicion was perhaps the quickest transition of power India has ever seen following the death of a sitting Chief Minister. Jayalalithaa, according to the official version, died at 11.30 pm on Monday. This was announced publicly a little after midnight. By 1.30 am, O Panneerselvam had taken oath as the new CM of Tamil Nadu.

One of India’s most popular, powerful and respected politicians had just died. Millions in Tamil Nadu were shocked. What was the tearing hurry to get OPS elected as the chairman of the legislature party and for him to be sworn in as the CM?

TNM has been closely following the political events of the two days, even before her death was announced, and it emerged that Dhivaharan, Sasikala’s youngest brother who is based in Mannargudi, was meeting MLAs, seeking their support and holding them together.

Also Read: Tharoor on Amma’s Demise: Can Her Party Survive the Body Blow?

It is true that the political crisis triggered by Jayalalithaa’s death needed to be contained. However, it's not unreasonable to ask if the events were more about saving the AIADMK and the government, or the Sasikala family’s hold on the party and the government machinery.

Sasikala’s estranged husband M Natarajan, whom Jayalalithaa had despised, is back. In fact, posters announcing the "return of the golden man who will save Tamil Nadu" were even seen in parts of Chennai.

And that brings us to the next question: Why is the Sasikala family back, all out in the open?

Let’s go back to March 2012 — exactly 100 days after Sasikala was shunted out of Poes Garden by Jayalalithaa for keeping in touch with her family members. Jayalalithaa believed that they were working against her.

Also Read: From English to Air Conditioning, Jaya a Stickler for Perfection

In March 2012, Sasikala was back in Amma’s house. She wrote an emotional, moving personal letter which was aired on Jaya TV, and then Jayalalithaa released a statement saying that she had accepted Sasikala's explanation and had welcomed her back into her house.

Here is what Sasikala promised to Jayalalithaa then –

Only after coming out of Poes Garden, I became aware of the machinations of my relatives who have misused my proximity and brought disrepute to Akka (elder sister) and the party. I have no role whatsoever in that. Hereafter, any relative, whosoever it might be, who had conspired against Akka, will remain a persona non-grata for me as well.

All the ‘persona non-grata’, however, are back and were all around Jayalalithaa during her final day.

M Natarajan, Sasikala’s husband, had been kept away from the party and the government for a long time, although he had been known to peddle some influence.

Now he is back, talking about the future course of the AIADMK, the party in power in Tamil Nadu. He was seen conversing with Union minister Venkiah Naidu and even PM Modi at Rajaji Hall during Jayalalithaa’s public homage.

Also Read: Subramanian Swamy Praised Himself Instead of Paying Homage to Amma

In an interview to News18 Tamil, he talks about how "we" will take forward the legacy of MGR and Jayalalithaa. And notice the man standing right next to him – BJP’s Aseervatham Achary.

Dhivaharan’s was arrested in 2012 and was sent to prison. On Tuesday, he was standing right beside Sasikala when she met Modi.

As TNM had earlier pointed out, most of Sasikala’s family, including those who were in Jayalalithaas bad books, were all around her body.

It was only because Sasikala promised to stay away from the controversial people in her family that she was allowed back into the party. Even if there had been some reconciliation since, it is highly likely that it was due to political compulsions.

Would Jayalalithaa have approved of the presence of these people during her final journey?

It would be instructive to look at the Sasikala family tree and how almost every member of her extended family has become a significant operative in the network.

Also Read: Jayalalithaa’s Death Brings Back Horrid Memories of 1987 Riots

The events of the past couple of days were perhaps Sasikala’s final deceit of Jayalalithaa.

The Sasikala family was not elected. They do not even hold senior party posts with accountability. They do not operate with any transparency. And yet, they are the ones who are seemingly now in charge of the state of Tamil Nadu, and ostensibly its political future.

Ahead of the Tamil Nadu polls earlier this year, TNM had traced how far-reaching the power and business interests of the Mannargudi clan were.

It is time for the cadre of AIADMK and people of Tamil Nadu to ask some tough questions of the Sasikala family.

In a democracy, it is our responsibility to raise questions when a crisis is staring at our face.

(This article was first published in The News Minute)