Sasikala's return shocks Jayalalitha loyalists

N Sathiya Moorthy in Madras

Controversial Sasikala Natarajan's return to AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha's Poes Garden bungalow has shocked the party's second-line leadership.

''Jayalalitha has proved her current crop of detractors like sacked party deputy general secretary S Thirunavukkarasu right,'' said a senior AIADMK leader who was a minister in her government.

Sasikala's return may not lead to further desertions from the ranks, but it will hamper the party's resurgence for some time. ''There is no question of the people accepting Jayalalitha as long as Sasikala Natarajan is around,'' said the former minister.

What has upset AIADMK cadres most is that Thirunavukkarasu's prediction has come true. Ever since he was sacked last month, the dissident leader has been claiming that he was shown the door as Jayalalitha wanted her one-time confidante back at her side.

Thirunavukkarasu's followers alleged that Sasikala delayed her return to Poes Garden because of the parallel general council meetings called by Jayalalitha and the dissident leader. ''Once the dust created by Thirunavukkarasu's expulsion settled down, Sasikala was welcomed back with opens arms,'' they said.

Asserting that this would seriously affect the party's chances, Jayalalitha loyalists said, ''In the absence of all these controversial and corrupt leaders who have deserted her, the supremo could have gone back to the people with profound apologies for her administration's lapses. It might have taken time, but she could have won over at least a section of the public after some time. This process has been completely hampered by Sasikala's return, not that anyone believed Jayalalalitha's statement that they parted ways.''

Why does Jayalalitha need Sasikala? ''The criminal cases against the two are coming up for hearing in the coming days. Though in some cases Jayalalitha cannot escape responsibility, in many others involving corruption charges she is supported by cabinet resolutions granting contracts. There is no proof that the money allegedly received by Sasikala was actually meant for Jayalalitha. The former chief minister had insulated herself against such charges, and Sasikala too cannot be hauled up under the anti-corruption law as she was not a public servant. As such, it is Sasikala's words that could count in evidence, either way,'' said the source.

Asked if the recent split engineered by Thirunavukkarasu would affect the former chief minister, the AIADMK politician said, ''Thirunavukkarasu's move has upset the cadres. But given his ambitions and his equation with Jayalalitha, no one really expected him to last long. If Jayalalitha had not been sacked him, Thirunavukkarasu would have deserted her later.''

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