Sasikala announces political retirement, wants AIADMK cadre to unite and defeat DMK

Informing that she will be staying away from politics, Sasikala said she will be praying to Jayalalithaa whom she considers as God for the AIADMK to return to power.

<p>V K Sasikala has formally announced that she will be quitting public life and politics.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;</p><p>In a two-page statement, she called upon All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam cadre to unite against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and ensure Stalin-led party's defeat in the forthcoming elections.<br />&nbsp;</p><p>In her statement, late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's confidante also said that she never liked to be in any post or position.<br />&nbsp;</p><p>Informing that she will be staying away from politics, Sasikala said she will be praying to Jayalalithaa whom she considers as God for the AIADMK to come back to power.</p>

V K Sasikala has formally announced that she will be quitting public life and politics. 

In a two-page statement, she called upon All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam cadre to unite against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and ensure Stalin-led party's defeat in the forthcoming elections.

In her statement, late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's confidante also said that she never liked to be in any post or position.

Informing that she will be staying away from politics, Sasikala said she will be praying to Jayalalithaa whom she considers as God for the AIADMK to come back to power.

<p>The expelled AIADMK chief's decision to quit politics and public life comes as shocking development ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly election.<br />&nbsp;</p><p>There were expectations that she would seek to reconsolidate her position in state politics after having served a four-year prison sentence in Bengaluru following a conviction in a disproportionate assets case.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;</p><p>Responding to Sasikala's decision, Sasikala's nephew and AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran said he was saddened by her announcement.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;</p><p>"I tried my best to persuade her out of it. I will continue to try and convince her. It is not a setback for me. AMMK will continue contesting this election under my leadership," he said.</p>

The expelled AIADMK chief's decision to quit politics and public life comes as shocking development ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly election.

There were expectations that she would seek to reconsolidate her position in state politics after having served a four-year prison sentence in Bengaluru following a conviction in a disproportionate assets case. 

Responding to Sasikala's decision, Sasikala's nephew and AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran said he was saddened by her announcement. 

"I tried my best to persuade her out of it. I will continue to try and convince her. It is not a setback for me. AMMK will continue contesting this election under my leadership," he said.