AIADMK's VK Sasikala Gets Bigger - Will She, Won't She?

"VK Sasikala spent four years in prison. She was with and served Amma (Jayalalithaa) for 32 years. Just on humane consideration, I think if she accepts the present set-up of the party under a chief coordinator and his deputy, we could consider her return,'' O Panneerselvam said

Tamil Nadu's Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam has indicated that though Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisami has categorically ruled out return of VK Sasikala to the party, he feels it can be considered. "She spent four years in prison. She was with and served Amma (Jayalalithaa) for 32 years. Just on humane consideration, I think if she accepts the present set-up of the party under a chief coordinator and his deputy, we could consider her return,'' he has said. That is a 180 degree turn by Mr Panneerselvam, who, in February 2017, had resigned as the Chief Minister and sat on a "dharmayuddham (battle for righteousness)" at Jayalalithaa's memorial, apparently protesting the leadership style of Sasikala. "The party does not function for an individual or a family," Mr Panneerselvam said while admitting that his boss had categorically ruled out her return to the party.