Sasikala tells Jayalalithaa supporters to unite & help AIADMK win; doesn't mention EPS-OPS

Former Jayalalithaa aide VK Sasikala appealed to 'all AIADMK cadre' to ensure that party wins upcoming polls and forms government as she paid tribute to late AIADMK chief on her birth anniversary on Tuesday. VK Sasikala, along with her nephew & AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, paid floral tribute to Jayalalithaa at former's residence in Chennai on Wednesday. Addressing cadre present at Sasikala's residence, former Jaya aide urged Jayalalithaa supporters to unite to fulfill former AIADMK chief's goal of party ruling state for over 100 years. 

VK Sasikala appealed to AIADMK cadre to work toger to ensure party forms government in polls and claimed that she believed so as y were true supporters of Jayalalithaa. former Jaya aide also revealed that she would meet her cadre and hold interactions with public in near future. Furr, Sasikala remarked that common enemy for AIADMK and Jayalalithaa supporters was DMK and called for cadre to unite to defeat Stalin's party. Meanwhile, Sasikala's nephew TTV Dinakaran smiled when asked if AIADMK was t AMMK's enemy as he too appealed to workers to unite to defeat DMK. AMMK leader also ruled out Sasikala's visit to Jayalalithaa's memorial at Marina beach in Chennai. 

READ | PM Modi Remembers Ex-TN CM Jayalalithaa On Birth Anniversary; Sasikala Pays Floral Tribute

It is pertinent to point out that Sasikala was expelled from party soon after her conviction in disproportionate assets case following which her return to party-fold has also been ruled out on numerous occasions. suspension of AIADMK functionaries from party for welcoming back Sasikala from prison indicates  ruling government's -compromise attitude towards former Jaya aide. Sasikala's nephew TTV Dhinakaran has categorically stated that his aunt has all rights to use AIADMK 'two leaves' symbol and that y will sort matter out in Court while ruling AIADMK has raised use of its party symbol by former Jaya aide with election Commission. 

READ | TN Govt Closing Jayalalithaa Memorial Before Sasikala's Return: Dinakaran's Insinuation 

PM Modi pays tribute to Jayalalithaa

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to former Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa on her birth anniversary on Wednesday and revealed that he cherished multiple interactions with late leader. PM Modi ted that late AIADMK chief was kwn for her policies favouring people and for her efforts to eradicate poverty. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi hailed Jayalalithaa's efforts towards women empowerment as he paid tribute. 

Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami, Dy CM O Pannerselvam and or ministers paid hom to Jayalalithaa at her memorial at Marina beach on Wednesday. ministers also garlanded Jayalalithaa's statue outside party headquarters in Chennai. CM EPS will furr participate in a massive tree plantation inauguration, awarding a girl child and rewarding District Collectors as a part of programmes organised on Jayalalithaa's birth anniversary. 

READ | AIADMK Functionary In Nilgiris Puts Up Posters Welcoming Back 'general Secretary' Sasikala

Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2021

two warring factions in AIADMK - of Deputy CM O Pannerselvam (OPS) and CM E Palaniswamy (EPS), reconciled after party named incumbent E Palaniswamy as its CM candidate and O Panneerselvam as chief of 11-member steering committee. With AIADMK anuncing it will continue its national alliance with BJP, saffron party is yet to officially anunce its state-level alliance. Meanwhile, ex-CM Karunanidhi's successor - DMK chief MK Stalin eyes his maiden CM term as DMK cant afford to lose a third straight Assembly election after sweeping state in 2019 Lok Sabha polls with 38 seats.

READ | Stalin Slammed By AIADMK & BJP For Posing With 'Vel'; NDA Allies Call Out DMK's 'Aism'