‘Root out enemies and traitors’: Sasikala floats new political party ahead of Tamil Nadu elections

NEW DELHI: Expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala on Tuesday announced that she is launching a new political party in Tamil Nadu. She made the announcement at a public meeting in Ramanathapuram held to mark the birth anniversary of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.“We are about to witness a new political chapter. We are going to launch a new party,” Sasikala said. She added that the party would follow the Dravidian movement and walk in the path of Perarignar Anna, Puratchi Thalaivar MGR, and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma. She further said the party would work for “the poor, the downtrodden, and the common people” and would “root out enemies and traitors”. Sasikala also introduced the party flag at the event. The flag carries black, white and red colours and bears the images of Perarignar Anna, MGR and Jayalalithaa. The name of the party will be announced soon.Recalling events after Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016, Sasikala said ministers and MLAs had asked her to become chief minister. “They told me, ‘Chinnamma, you must become the chief minister,’” she said. She added that she refused at the time, saying she had personal duties to perform and that O Panneerselvam should continue as chief minister.Sasikala was expelled from the AIADMK after charges in the disproportionate assets case. Tamil Nadu is scheduled to hold Assembly elections in the first half of this year.