When%20late%20Jayalalithaa%u2019s%20aide%20Sasikala%20rode%20out%20of%20Bengaluru%20%u2014%20after%20serving%20a%20four-year%20jail%20term%20on%20corruption%20charges%u2014%20in%20a%20grand%20motorcade%20into%20Tamil%20Nadu%20on%20February%208-9%2C%20she%20gave%20out%20a%20strong%20message%20that%20she%20would%20work%20to%20defeat%20one-time%20loyalist-turned%20rebel%2C%20Tamil%20Nadu%20Chief%20Minister%20Edapaddi%20K%20Palanisamy%20%28EPS%29%2C%20who%20had%20carved%20out%20a%20political%20space%20not%20only%20for%20himself%20but%20revived%20the%20electoral%20fortunes%20of%20the%20ruling%20AIADMK.

On%20the%20occasion%20of%20the%20birth%20anniversary%20of%20Jayalalithaa%20on%20February%2024%2C%20she%20made%20a%20call%20for%20unity%20of%20all%20AIADMK%20leaders%20and%20workers%20loyal%20to%20the%20deceased%20chief%20minister%2C%20pledging%20to%20meet%20her%20supporters%20in%20days%20to%20come%20in%20preparation%20for%20the%20coming%20assembly%20polls.

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20read%3A%20%3C/strong%3E%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/congress-feud-over-rahul-gandhi-pact-with-muslim-groups-reinforces-bjps-narrative-ahead-of-polls%22%3E%3Cstrong%3ECongress%20feud%20over%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20%26amp%3B%20pact%20with%20Muslim%20groups%20reinforces%20BJP%u2019s%20narrative%20ahead%20of%20polls%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

The%20opposition%20DMK%20could%20not%20have%20had%20it%20any%20better%20to%20cause%20the%20rout%20of%20the%20AIADMK%20in%20the%20state%20polls%20slated%20for%20April%206.

But%2C%20in%20an%20unexpected%20turn%20of%20events%2C%20Sasikala%2C%20who%20was%20expelled%20as%20AIADMK%20general%20secretary%20when%20she%20went%20to%20prison%2C%20announced%20on%20March%203%20night%20that%20she%20would%20quit%20politics%20and%20public%20life.%26nbsp%3B

In%20one%20stroke%2C%20she%20removed%20a%20big%20hurdle%20set%20up%20by%20her%20nephew%20TTV%20Dhinakaran%20to%20thwart%20Palaniswamy%u2019s%20bid%20for%20a%20second%20term%20and%20ruin%20the%20AIADMK%27s%20chances%20of%20putting%20up%20a%20good%20fight%20against%20the%20DMK.

Sasikala%27s%20decision%20was%20similar%20to%20movie%20superstar%20Rajinikanth%20developing%20cold%20feet%20and%20deciding%20not%20to%20enter%20the%20electoral%20fray%20with%20a%20tweet%20on%20December%2029%2C%20citing%20his%20health%20and%20Covid-19%20situation.%20Rajnikanth%27s%20foray%20would%20have%20meant%20big%20trouble%20for%20the%20AIADMK%20but%20a%20bigger%20stumbling%20block%20for%20the%20DMK%20to%20capture%20power.

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20read%3A%20%3C/strong%3E%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/what-do-upcoming-assembly-polls-mean-to-pm-narendra-modi-and-bjp%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EWhat%20do%20upcoming%20Assembly%20polls%20mean%20to%20PM%20Narendra%20Modi%20and%20BJP%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

Sasikala%20declared%20that%20it%20was%20important%20to%20defeat%20the%20common%20foe%20%u2014the%20DMK%20whose%20chief%20MK%20Stalin%20has%20been%20eyeing%20his%20maiden%20term%20as%20CM%20for%20a%20long%20time%2C%20banking%20largely%20on%20her%20vow%20to%20finish%20Palanisamy%20and%20his%20deputy%20O%20Paneerselvam%20%28OPS%29%2C%20who%20headed%20warring%20AIADMK%20factions%20but%20joined%20hands%20against%20her%20%28once%20she%20was%20in%20jail%29.

Her%20decision%20not%20to%20be%20in%20the%20political%20arena%20means%20her%20nephew%20Dhinakaran%u2019s%20bid%20to%20split%20the%20AIADMK%20votes%20in%20southern%20Tamil%20Nadu%20districts%20may%20turn%20out%20to%20be%20a%20non-starter.%20But%2C%20at%20the%20same%20time%2C%20her%20move%20allows%20Dhinakaran%20who%20heads%20fledgeling%20Amma%20Makkal%20Munnetra%20Kazhagam%20%28AMMK%29%20party%2C%20to%20work%20out%20a%20deal%2C%20perhaps%20with%20the%20help%20of%20the%20BJP%2C%26nbsp%3B%20with%20the%20main%20AIADMK%20for%20a%20few%20seats%20to%20stay%20afloat.

Many%20do%20see%20Sasikala%u2019s%20move%20as%20a%20tactical%20retreat%20in%20the%20face%20of%20lack%20of%20prospects%20for%20a%20divided%20AIADMK.%20Her%20political%20rehabilitation%20cannot%20happen%20if%20the%20AIADMK%20is%20vanquished%20totally.%20Rather%2C%20she%20would%20wait%20for%20the%20post-poll%20scenario%20to%20reclaim%20her%20space%20and%20leadership%20of%20the%20main%20party%20once%20the%20outcome%20is%20clear%20on%20the%20fate%20of%20EPS-OPS%20combine.

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Whether%20EPS%20enables%20the%20AIADMK%20to%20perform%20well%20or%20not%2C%20she%20can%20look%20forward%20to%20a%20scenario%20where%20she%20would%20not%20be%20unwelcome%20as%20she%20is%20today.%20Besides%2C%20if%20she%20had%20gone%20against%20the%20AIADMK%20because%20of%20Dhinakaran%u2019s%20pressure%2C%20she%20would%20be%20as%20guilty%20of%20splitting%20the%20votes%20of%20the%20Thevar%20community%2C%20the%20mainstay%20of%20the%20party%2C%20in%20southern%20Tamil%20Nadu.%26nbsp%3B

Citing%20her%20health%2C%20some%20analysts%20do%20compare%20her%20move%20with%20the%20decision%20taken%20by%20Janaki%20Ramachandran%2C%20widow%20of%20AIADMK%20founder%20M%20G%20Ramachandran%2C%20to%20retire%20from%20politics%20in%201989%20after%20her%20faction%20lost%20in%20that%20year%u2019s%20assembly%20polls%20and%20the%20DMK%20returned%20to%20power.%20That%20move%20led%20to%20Jayalalithaa%20emerging%20as%20the%20undisputed%20leader%20of%20the%20AIADMK%20in%20the%20post-MGR%20era.

It%20is%20also%20no%20secret%20that%20the%20BJP%20has%20been%20working%20behind%20the%20scenes%20to%20ensure%20that%20the%20DMK%u2019s%20win%20in%20the%20assembly%20polls%20is%20not%20easy%20and%20the%20pro-AIADMK%20votes%20are%20not%20split%20at%20any%20cost.

Apparently%2C%20Union%20Home%20Minister%20Amit%20Shah%20too%20had%20conveyed%20to%20Dhinakaran%20in%20this%20regard%20but%20Sasikala%20is%20understood%20to%20have%20read%20the%20message%20better%20than%20her%20nephew.%20One%20would%20not%20know%20whether%20the%20threat%20of%20revival%20of%20cases%20against%20Sasikala%20%28if%20she%20played%20spoilsport%20to%20the%20AIADMK-BJP%20alliance%29%20was%20behind%20her%20decision%20to%20quit%20politics.%20In%20October%202019%2C%20the%20Income%20Tax%20Department%20had%20sent%20a%20notice%20to%20Sasikala%2C%20asking%20why%20Rs%201%2C911.50%20crore%20should%20not%20be%20declared%20as%20her%20undisclosed%20income.

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20read%3A%20%3C/strong%3E%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/despite-political-challenges-modi-is-keen-on-reforms-in-key-sectors-including-agriculture%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EDespite%20political%20challenges%2C%20Modi%20is%20keen%20on%20reforms%20in%20key%20sectors%20including%20agriculture%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

Die-hard%20loyalists%20of%20Sasikala%2C%20however%2C%20believe%20that%20her%20close%20association%20with%20Jayalalithaa%20for%20more%20than%20three%20decades%20forbade%20her%20from%20being%20responsible%20for%20any%20situation%20that%20would%20help%20her%20late%20leader%u2019s%20main%20political%20rival%2C%20the%20DMK.

Naturally%2C%20Stalin%20and%20other%20DMK%20leaders%20are%20disappointed%20by%20the%20turn%20of%20events.%20What%20seemed%20like%20an%20easy%20win%20for%20their%20party%20after%20it%20swept%20the%20Lok%20Sabha%20polls%20from%20the%20state%20is%20now%20turning%20out%20to%20be%20an%20uphill%20task.

EPS%20has%20not%20only%20united%20the%20AIADMK%20ranks%20but%20also%20given%20the%20necessary%20thrust%20to%20their%20party%u2019s%20campaign%20by%20a%20slew%20of%20social%20welfare%20schemes%20over%20the%20last%20two%20years.%20Stalin%u2019s%20aides%20are%20forced%20to%20factor%20in%20several%20new%20developments%20because%20EPS%20has%20narrowed%20the%20gap%20between%20the%20DMK%20and%20the%20AIADMK%20with%20populist%20schemes%20such%20as%20doling%20out%20cash%20to%20people%20during%20the%20pandemic%2C%20Rs%201%2C715%20crore%20compensation%20for%20farmers%20affected%20by%20natural%20calamities%2C%20farm%20loan%20waiver%20of%20Rs%2012%2C110%20crore%20and%20launching%20a%20series%20of%20irrigation%20infrastructure%20projects.%20He%20has%20reached%20out%20to%2012%20lakh%20government%20employees%20and%20teachers%20by%20extending%20their%20retirement%20age%20to%2060.%3Cbr%3EShowing%20his%20ability%20to%20strengthen%20the%20AIADMK-led%20front%2C%20EPS%20has%20also%20roped%20in%20the%20Patali%20Maakal%20Katchi%20%28PMK%29%20after%20ceding%20to%20its%20demand%20for%20an%20internal%20reservation%20of%2010.5%25%20%26nbsp%3Bin%20the%20OBC%20quota%20for%20Vanniyars%2C%20one%20of%20the%20largest%20caste%20groups%2C%20in%20the%20north%20and%20central%20Tamil%20Nadu.

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20read%3A%20%3C/strong%3E%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/republic-day-horror-is-bad-optics-but-government-bjp-is-relieved-it-wasnt-another-jallianwala-bagh%22%3E%3Cstrong%3ERepublic%20Day%20horror%20is%20bad%20optics%20but%20government%2C%20BJP%20is%20relieved%20it%20wasn%27t%20another%20Jallianwala%20Bagh%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

On%20the%20other%20hand%2C%20the%20DMK%20is%20finding%20a%20sulking%20Congress%20not%20averse%20to%20even%20considering%20other%20options%20like%20Kamal%20Haasan%u2019s%20Makkal%20Neethi%20Maiyam%20because%20it%20won%u2019t%20accept%2018%20seats%20on%20offer%20as%20part%20of%20the%20DMK-led%20alliance.%26nbsp%3BThe%20DMK%20wants%20to%20contest%20close%20to%20200%20seats%20for%20a%20better%20strike%20rate%20to%20have%20a%20government%20on%20its%20own.

But%20the%20Congress%20wants%20to%20contest%20at%20least%2050%20of%20the%20234%20assembly%20seats%2C%2010%20more%20than%20the%20last%20polls%20when%20it%20contested%2041.

Rahul%20Gandhi%20has%20mounted%20pressure%20on%20the%20DMK%20to%20part%20with%20more%20seats%20by%20his%20repeated%20forays%20in%20the%20state.

Of%20course%2C%20the%20AIADMK%20is%20too%20facing%20the%20brunt%20of%20the%20BJP%u2019s%20demand%20for%20a%20share%20of%2030%20seats%2C%20apart%20from%20the%20Kanniyakumari%20Lok%20Sabha%20seat%2C%20for%20which%20by-election%20will%20be%20held%20along%20with%20the%20state%20polls.%20The%20BJP%20has%20not%20minced%20words%20about%20its%20future%20plans.%20Amit%20Shah%20has%20already%20tasked%20party%20workers%20to%20work%20towards%20a%20BJP-led%20government%20in%202026.

A%20major%20difference%20in%20this%20assembly%20election%20is%20it%20will%20be%20held%20without%20the%20two%20stalwarts%20of%20Tamil%20Nadu%20politics%2C%20DMK%20veteran%20M%20Karunanidhi%20and%20Jayalalithaa.%20Smaller%20parties%20that%20represent%20various%20caste%20groups%20and%20their%20votes%20matter%20than%20ever%20before.

%26nbsp%3B

%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Sasikala%22%20data-user-id%3D%22kHog3DTQu8uT%22%20href%3D%22/topic/sasikala%22%3E%23Sasikala%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23AIADMK%22%20data-user-id%3D%22qTdchBxtT14O%22%20href%3D%22/topic/aiadmk%22%3E%23AIADMK%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23MKStalin%22%20data-user-id%3D%22fpNwWtTP9Arq%22%20href%3D%22/topic/m-k-stalin%22%3E%23MKStalin%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23TamilNaduElection2021%22%20data-user-id%3D%22m0MY4v0nQle7%22%20href%3D%22/topic/tamilnaduelection2021%22%3E%23TamilNaduElection2021%3C/a%3E%20%23TamilNadu%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Politics%22%20data-user-id%3D%22ODQ1kqHlUPEu%22%20href%3D%22/topic/politics%22%3E%23Politics%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23India%22%20data-user-id%3D%22Bq4MmUPrXF8p%22%20href%3D%22/topic/india%22%3E%23India%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23TTVDhinakaran%22%20data-user-id%3D%22yr73FseH1Rfg%22%20href%3D%22/topic/ttvdhinakaran%22%3E%23TTVDhinakaran%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23DMK%22%20data-user-id%3D%222Dy9v6ebgSsv%22%20href%3D%22/topic/dmk%22%3E%23DMK%3C/a%3E%26nbsp%3B