CHENNAI: AIADMK MPs visited former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence and pleaded with Sasikalaa to steer the party. The AIADMK is the third largest party in Parliament, after Congress, and plays a key role in passing legislation in Rajya Sabha where the ruling BJP lacks majority.
AIADMK all 49 MPs were present in full attendance and Sasikalaa joined them at the portico to pay floral tributes to the leader. Party insiders say that Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai requested Sasikalaa "on behalf of the MPs" to lead the party with the post of general secretary falling vacant after Jayalalithaa's demise. Jayalalithaa was elected general secretary for seven times, and the last such election was in August 2014."There were a few more voices urging her to take over the party, to which she patiently listened without letting her mind known," a senior MP told.
Thambidurai the MP, a prominent AIADMK face from the Kongu region, said in his fourpage statement: "Chinnamma is the only person who is capable of following the path taken by Perarignar Anna, Puratchi Thalaivar MGR and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma in embracing the party cadres without considerations of caste and community."
