After Amma, Chinnamma: Sasikala to head AIADMK as General Secretary

Sasikala Natarajan was J Jayalalithaa's long-time aide

Nearly two weeks after J Jayalalithaa's death, AIADMK has announced that Sasikala Natarajan, her long-time aide, will be named the next general secretary of the party.

C Ponnaiyan, a spokesperson of the party said on Thursday, "It is clear that Chinnamma (Sasikala) will be the next Genernal Secretary of party."

Natarajan, 54, holds no post in the party as of now.

Rules will be amended if needed to place her in control, said AIADMK spokesperson Ponnaiyan. "It is the desire of the entire party," he said, adding, "Sasikala has functioned as the conscience of Amma."

Party functionaries from districts including Tiruchirappalli, Sivaganga, Ariyalur, Kanyakumari, Tiruvarur called on her at the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa and urged her to guide the party at this "critical juncture after Amma's passing away on Wednesday.

Functionaries from several party wings like the youth wings for young men and women (Ilaignar Pasarai and Ilam Pengal Pasarai) and Information Technology Wing made the same demand.

After the demise of Jayalalithaa on December 5, top party leaders including party presidium chairman E Madusudanan, party treasurer and Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai had urged her take on the top post and lead the party.