Even from a cage, will steer AIADMK: Sasikala defiant before jail term

"Only I can be jailed, not the care or concern I have for this party," an aggressive Sasikala declared before her trip to Bengaluru to serve her four-year sentence. She also said she would be back soon. 

AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala, convicted in a disproportionate assets case by the Supreme Court, today said her thoughts will continue to remain with the party even from inside the jail. 

"Only I can be jailed, not the care or concern I have for this party. Wherever I will be, my thoughts will be here," said an emotional Sasikala. She said she will be thinking about the party round the clock. 

She said the present case was "filed" by DMK and asked the partymen to strongly resist it. Sasikala also said she was happy in a way that Jayalalithaa was not alive to "face difficulties," although she said she was not bothered to undergo such problems. 

In her address to party MLAs hours after her conviction, Sasikala also stressed the need for staying united and exuded confidence that Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao would invite her party to form the government. 

Earlier, newly elected AIADMK legislature party leader Edappadi K Palaniswami had met Rao and staked claim to form the government. 

"For me, to form a government, to set up Amma's memorial, you should remain united," she said. Sasikala, who later left the resort where party MLAs loyal to her were put up, said no force could wean away AIADMK from her.

Later, Sasikala reached the Poes Garden residence and said, "Dharma will undergo challenges, but one has to overcome it." She reiterated that wherever she will be, her thoughts will be with the party and its supporters and asked them to remain bold at this time of crisis.

"I will steer the party even from inside a cage," she told party supporters who had gathered there. The 62-year-old Sasikala said that upon her return from the prison, the AIADMK government will be formed and that the party workers should strive in this regard.

She urged them not to lose their composure and stay united in the interests of the party.

Meanwhile, ending days of speculation on whether she would join hands with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Deepa Jayakumar, late Jayalalithaa's niece, today said she would work with him as if they are "two hands of the AIADMK".

Exactly a week after he announced that he was forced to quit as Chief Minister, Panneerselvam, flanked by MLAs and MPs in his camp, paid a visit to late Jayalalithaa's burial site at Marina and offered homage.

Minutes after his arrival, Deepa also reached the venue and jointly paid homage to the late Chief Minister at the burial site for about 20 minutes. "We will work together jointly as two hands of AIADMK in future for the people of Tamil Nadu. He asked for justice. I too ask the same," Deepa told reporters.

Education Minister K Pandiarajan, former Electricity Minister 'Natham' Viswanathan, AIADMK MPs including V Maitreyan, senior party leaders C Ponnaiyan and E Madhusudhanan were also at the memorial.

After paying homage, Deepa went to the house of Panneerselvam at Greenways Road and was given a traditional welcome by family members of the Chief Minister. Recently Panneerselvam had said Deepa and her brother Deepak were the only blood relations of Jayalalithaa.

"When Amma's mortal remains were in the hospital on the night of December 5, she (Deepa) was not allowed to pay her respects even at that time," he had alleged.

• Sasikala
• AIADMK