What Sasikala can do to the AIADMK

"We will give our life for you." "I pray to your portrait every day." "Talking to you is like talking to god. Only you can resurrect our party." "It is Diwali for us today because you have spoken to us. You have to take over the party reins" These phone conversations of party cadres with V K Sasikala were not released for mere dramatic effect. It was a signal that the aide of former AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa had declared war on her detractors.Reaching out to cadresIt’s an encore few within the AIADMK anticipated this soon. Sasikala’s reappearance on the political scene has shaken the frontline leadership, unnerved and confused the second-line leadership, and enthused a section of the rank and file. In a clever move meant to deepen divisions in the AIADMK leadership, assess sentiments and support within, and set the stage for her possible return to the party, Sasikala has reached out to scores of party cadres and functionaries within the AIADMK and some in the AMMK, a party launched by her nephew T T V Dhinakaran. medium nocaption83335296In the past 10 days or so, the conch shells calling for battle can be heard loud and clear. Sasikala has been reconnecting through phone calls with cadres, who have been writing to her in an attempt to persuade her to return to politics ever since her announcement to step down ahead of the assembly election in Tamil Nadu. “She makes 12 to 15 calls a day. After we released some of the audio, AIADMK cadres have been approaching us even more, eager to receive Chinnamma’s calls,” said a close Sasikala associate.The plan, her associate said, is to cash in on the disconnect between the leaders and cadres. In one call to a party functionary, Sasikala can be heard saying, “Leaders should devote their lives for cadres; it is not necessary that cadres should live for their leaders.” In another conversation, Sasikala said, “Right from the time the party was started by cadres, it is the cadres who choose the leaders. That is how Amma emerged. Our focus is welfare of cadres. I will continue to work for the rights of the people of Tamil Nadu. I will bring back the old glory to the party.”The present situation within the AIADMK is strange, said another Sasikala associate. “The leaders are on one side and cadres on the other. There is no harmony,” he said.EPS vs OPS or EPS and OPS?So what does this mean for former TN chief minister and AIADMK co-coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami? Having snapped ties with his benefactor Sasikala, all roads lead to the battleground for EPS. With this new threat, closing ranks and rapprochement with colleague and party coordinator O Panneerselvam is vital. Under the pretext of condoling a bereavement in the family, EPS even called on OPS last week to make peace. medium nocaption83335310 “But OPS will not give in easily. He is keen on his choice of candidate for the post of party whip for the assembly,” said an OPS supporter. With local body elections around the corner, a party revamp is also on the cards. “It will be 50-50 all through. The party structure and hierarchy will have to be stacked with functionaries, constituting an equal number of loyalists of EPS and OPS,” he said.Sasikala is, thus, OPS's trump card, and the dual leadership his succour. If push comes to shove and EPS draws the battlelines for control of the AIADMK, OPS would rather accept Sasikala’s leadership, warn his supporters.Fight for controlThe AIADMK has been a personality-centric party with a monolith structure since the days of founder M G Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa. Technically or legally there is no provision for a single leader in the two-owner party. EPS and OPS can ward off competition if they stick together. That would perhaps be Sasikala’s next focal point — breaking the leadership. The majority support for EPS may only be a perception. The party has to split, suffer a court battle before a single leader can emerge. But neither EPS nor OPS may be willing to take that chance and could prefer the status quo.The AIADMK has a strong base. But the foundation can loosen if three owners make a bid to build the house and fight for ownership, observed a leader. Whether Sasikala wins or loses, it’s tough times ahead for the AIADMK. medium nocaption83334604