The Madras High Court has closed a civil suit moved by expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa on Jayalalithaa’s close aide VK Sasikala’s elevation to party chief. This comes two days after VK Sasikala took charge as the AIADMK’s General Secretary.

The High Court closed Pushpa’s suit and allowed AIADMK Presidium Chairman Madhusudhan’s plea seeking a rejection of the expelled MP’s petitions.

Pushpa had approached the High Court arguing that VK Sasikala was ineligible to contest as the party’s by-laws mandated five years’ continuous primary membership. She noted that Sasikala had been expelled by Jayalalithaa in 2011 for conspiring against the late CM.

In its counterarguments, the AIADMK stated that Pushpa had no locus standi as she had been expelled from the party in July last year. The ruling party’s counsel also noted that VK Sasikala’s suspension had been revoked in 2012 by then General Secretary Jayalalithaa.   

While the Madras High Court reserved orders on Pushpa’s suit on December 23, the AIADMK appointed VK Sasikala as party’s General Secretary on December 29 at its General Council meeting. She formally took charge on December 31, visiting the party headquarters in Chennai and addressing functionaries in an emotional speech.

A day prior to the AIADMK meeting, Pushpa’s husband Lingeswaran Thiligan and his legal representatives were beaten up by cadres at the party office in Chennai. Reports had then suggested that Lingeswaran had arrived with his legal team to file nominations for the post of General Secretary. He was later arrested by Chennai police and been booked under five sections of IPC. He was released on bail a day later.