Will Sasikala become a factor in Tamil Nadu politics

Kalyani Shankar Sasikala, a close aide, and companion of the former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa will be released soon. Post-Jayalalitha’s demise in 2016 there was massive political turmoil within the ruling AIADNK until she was sent to jail in February 2017 for four years. Her jail term ends next month. Will she become a factor in the Tamil Nadu politics ahead of the Assembly elections in April-May? Some believe that she can play a role and others that she might bide her time but she has an interest in politics.  It was a proverbial slip between the cup and the lip in 2017 when she was about to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu after Jayalalithaa’s death, but destiny took her to jail. However, people close to her say that her ambition remains intact though politics has changed in these four years. Since she cannot contest for the next six years according to the law she could only remain as a power behind the throne.  In the absence of ‘Amma’, what impact will ‘Chinna Amma’ have in politics? Though Sasikala’s evolution into a politician after emerging from the shadows of Jayalalithaa was cut short abruptly and she should realize that the power she had as Jaya’s shadows was entirely on Jayalalithaa’s terms.  But the options for her are not many. Much has happened in the state during her jail term.  Chief Minister E.Palaniswamy has not only consolidated his power both in the government and the party but also on friendly terms with the BJP. His biggest achievement is keeping the party united so far.  The first is that she might try to grab back the AIADMK as she still has many loyalists in the party. But her possible re-entry would further complicate the political environment in the state. Her one- time loyalists – the current chief minister E. Palaniswamy and his deputy O. Pannerselvam- will resist this. Notwithstanding the Ministers reiterating the party line, some second-rung party leaders would like striking a “working relationship” with the Sasikala-Dhinakaran camp would only be beneficial for the AIADMK.  The ongoing Coronavirus crisis has helped AIADMK to improve its stature in the state initially. However, the growing numbers in the state have led to a decrease in his popularity of Palaniswamy. The AIADMK is now run from Delhi.  Above all, the party has also announced an alliance with the BJP for the upcoming assembly polls. The BJP seems to be promoting the concept of a coalition government in the State, an idea that the AIADMK has rejected flatly. The party has never shared power.