AIADMK's new General Secretary Sasikala Natarajan broke down at late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s resting place in Chennai on Friday, after seeking her blessings. It was Sasikala’s first visit to Jayalalithaa’s grave at the Marina Beach after the ruling party appointed her as General Secretary on Thursday.
Dressed in a pink saree, Sasikala along with Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and other senior AIADMK ministers visited the memorial at around 5:30pm on Friday to seek the late leader’s blessings.
After placing flowers on the grave, the new party leader placed the 14-point AIADMK resolutions at Jayalalithaa’s resting place.
Sasikala then went down on her knees to seek blessings from her friend, mentor and predecessor. As she stood up, an emotional Sasikala broke into tears even as party functionaries, who had gathered there raised slogans in her support. “Our mother, Chinnamma,” cried a throng of supporters at Jayalalithaa’s resting place as Sasikala left.
Thanthi TV screengrab
Following Jayalalithaa’s death on December 5, the AIADMK has rallied around her aide Sasikala, with senior party leaders and functionaries urging her to take over the mantle.
On Thursday, the AIADMK General Council unanimously passed resolutions appointing Sasikala as the General Secretary until she is elected to the post. Once the resolutions were passed, Panneerselvam, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Thambidurai and PWD Minister Edappadi Palanisamy drove to Poes Garden to hand over the copy of the same to Sasikala, who accepted to lead the party.
Sources say Sasikala is expected to visit the AIADMK headquarters on Saturday, where she will officially take charge as General Secretary.
Jayalalithaa held the post of General Secretary for 27 years until she passed away.