Former AIADMK leader V.K. Sasikala has indicated her return to active politics, declaring that she is determined to revive the party, reclaim its leadership, and bring back the governance style once practiced by the late Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa. She expressed confidence that her knowledge, political experience, and close association with Jayalalithaa would enable her to restore stability within the AIADMK and strengthen its role in Tamil Nadu politics.
Addressing the current state of the party, Sasikala stated that confusion and disunity have weakened its structure and that only a leader with deep experience can resolve such issues. She emphasized that politics is not something that can be mastered simply by entering the field but requires discipline, skill, and the ability to act decisively. Stressing her commitment, she said she would take up the responsibility of restoring “Amma’s rule” and made it clear that she would not make promises unless she was confident of fulfilling them.
Sasikala further pointed out that the existing leadership had contributed to the AIADMK’s problems, causing frustration among party members and encouraging defections to other political groups. She argued that only someone who truly understands the party’s foundation could rebuild unity and strengthen its ranks. Reiterating her determination, she said she would not hesitate to take the necessary steps to revive the AIADMK and guide it back toward its original principles.
Moving beyond internal party matters, Sasikala turned her criticism toward the state’s current government, led by the DMK. She urged people to carefully reconsider their voting choices, contrasting the governance under Jayalalithaa with the present administration. She expressed distress at the current condition of Tamil Nadu, saying that she was unable to rest when she saw how governance had declined compared to the days of Amma. She accused Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of failing to provide the same standard of leadership and vowed to ensure that the DMK would not return to power in the next election.
Highlighting specific issues, Sasikala pointed to the privatisation of sanitary work, arguing that such decisions were not taken when Jayalalithaa was alive because she always prioritised the welfare of the people. By invoking these examples, Sasikala positioned herself as the defender of Jayalalithaa’s legacy and sought to distinguish her approach from that of the current government.
Through her statements, Sasikala made it clear that she intends to reclaim influence within the AIADMK and in Tamil Nadu politics at large. By invoking the memory and governance model of Jayalalithaa, she framed her return as an effort not only to rebuild the party but also to restore a political legacy that many in the state continue to associate with stability, welfare, and strong leadership.
