Gurumurthy 'Will regard Mannargudi family as Mafia' regardless of ADMK-BJP alliance future

Thuglak magazine Editor S Gurumurthy on Friday expressed his support to the AIADMK-BJP alliance, issuing a clarification over his earlier statements on Sasikala's return to the party fold. Remarking that he regarded the Mannargudi family as 'Mafia', Gurumurthy opined that Sasikala's return to the ADMK would turn it into a family-owned affair like the DMK.

Gurumurthy remarked that his support to the AIADMK-BJP alliance was to 'hedge' against uncertainty surrounding the ties between the two, adding that in no way did it amount to supporting the Amma DMK. He also stated that Thuglak would continue to see Amma DMK as 'Chandraswamy', the controversial spiritual guru who Arun Shourie had allied with to probe into corruption charges levelled against Rajiv Gandhi.

Gurumurthy's remarks assume significance with the AIADMK all set to hold a general body meeting on Saturday with key issues including the party's alliance with the BJP and the release of Sasikala on agenda.

In Thuglak annual meet yesterday I had said when in 1987 Indian Express was questioned on taking Chandraswamy's help to probe Rajiv Gandhi's corruption Arun Shourie had said to fight fire one can't look to only Gangajalm can also throw Sewer water, Gurumurthy said in the first of a series of posts.

Read: Sasikala To Be Released From Prison On January 27; Lawyer Says Early Release Being Sought

Read:In AIADMK's General Body Meet Today; Sasikala, Poll Alliance & EPS As CM Face Top Agendas

Sasikala a threat to AIADMK?

Sasikala has been lodged in jail since February 2017 when the Supreme Court upheld her conviction by a special court in Bengaluru in a disproportionate assets case and sentenced her to four years imprisonment. She has also been probed for her alleged involvement in former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa's death with the Arumugasamy commission requesting the Home Secretary's permission to record her statement.

The AIADMK currently harbors two major factions within the party. With Sasikala's ouster by then-Chief Minister K Palaniswami-led camp, Deputy CM O Pannerselvam (OPS) and CM E Palaniswamy (EPS) reconciled. This, after the party named incumbent E Palaniswamy as its CM candidate and O Panneerselvam as the chief of the 11-member steering committee.

However, with the former Jayalalithaa aide all set to be released from the Parappana Aghrahara prison on January 27, it remains to be seen how her comeback hits CM Palaniswami who has been projected by his party as CM-face for the 2021 elections.

Earlier, when asked if Sasikala's return would hamper AIADMK's chances in the upcoming polls, TN CM Edappadi Palaniswami told the media that her release will have 'zero impact' on the party and categorically stated that no changes would happen after her release. Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are due during April-May 2021. 

Read: Sasikala To Be Released From Jail In Jan 2021 If Fine Paid: Bengaluru Prison's RTI Reply

Read: Udhayanidhi Stalin Gets Notice From Sasikala's Kin For 'derogatory' Speech Linking CM EPS