Expelled AIADMK leader V.K. Sasikala has made serious allegations against some current AIADMK leaders, accusing them of indulging in caste-based politics, a practice she asserts will not be tolerated within the party.
Speaking to the media from her new Poes Garden residence after a private meeting with her supporters, Sasikala emphasized, “For the first time, I am hearing about caste-based politics within the AIADMK. No one in the AIADMK will tolerate such behavior.”
Call for Unity and Rejection of Caste Divisions
Sasikala’s comments came after she called for a united AIADMK to regain its stature in Tamil Nadu politics. She underscored that party icons like Jayalalithaa and M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) never supported caste divisions. “If Jayalalithaa considered caste, she would not have associated with me. In the AIADMK, even an ordinary party worker can attain a leadership position. If the party had engaged in caste politics, then why would Edappadi K. Palaniswami have been appointed as the Chief Minister when I went to Bengaluru?” Sasikala remarked.
Sasikala, a prominent figure within the Mukkulathor community, served a prison sentence starting in 2017 in connection with a disproportionate assets case. She highlighted that the AIADMK, once the third-largest party in India, is now on a downward trajectory due to the “selfishness of a few people.”
Plans for Political Revival
Determined to revive the AIADMK, Sasikala announced her plans to actively involve herself in party affairs again. “My entry has started with the work of coordinating and bringing the AIADMK together. I will form the AIADMK government in 2026,” she declared, signaling her intention to undertake a state-wide campaign to rally support.