Thaindian News

Chennai, Dec 20 (IANS) The severance of relationship between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and her long-time confidante V.K. Sasikala this time around might be final and not an image-building exercise, say political commentators.

“This time, the break in relationship may be final. The news is straight and it should be taken as it is and not as an image makeover exercise to manage the so-called failures of a government,” senior political commentator Cho Ramaswamy told IANS.

In a sweeping move, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa Monday sacked from the party long-time confidant Sasikala and 13 others who were known to wield enormous clout in the party.

In a brief statement, the AIADMK chief, who took over as Tamil Nadu chief minister in May, asked party members not to have any dealing with those booted out. Party sources said this could be due to widespread charges of interference by Sasikala and her associates in the running of the administration.

It is rumoured that the Sasikala group was keen on bringing the AIADMK under their control fearing Jayalalithaa could be convicted in the disproportionate assets case now being heard in Bangalore.

There is a view that Jayalalithaa’s announcement is just an image management exercise as the government’s decision-making efforts have slackened in recent times and many of the decisions — shifting of the Anna Centenary Library, the uniform system of school education, dismissal of people’s welfare workers — turned down by the courts.

Removing a person from the party and readmitting him again is nothing new and that the same could happen with Sasikala and her group is the view of some political watchers.

According to this school of opinion, Jayalalithaa had disowned Sasikala earlier also but later patched up.

However, the weeding of Sasikala from the Poes Garden where Jayalalithaa’s residence is located is a major and likely permanent operation, say others.

“You do not remove 14 people from a party on a single day unless the severance is probably for good,” political commentator Gnani told IANS.

However, he reiterated that Jayalalithaa owes an explanation to the people as to why Sasikala who was living with her for several decades and several others related to the latter have been removed from the primary membership of the party.

The sacking comes ahead of AIADMK’s executive and general council meetings slated for Dec 30 here and Jayalalithaa perhaps may make a statement on the reasons for bulk expulsion there.

Gnani also denied the view that the weeding out is a sort of image makeover for the AIADMK government.

“There is no need for an image makeover now. The two major issues before the government are the Mullaperiyar Dam and the atomic power project at Kudankulam,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ramaswamy said: “For a state government without any help from the centre and which has to set right all the faults of previous DMK government, the performance is quite good.”

Referring to the Kudankulam power project issue, Ramaswamy said the central government tried to palm off its responsibility to the state government. It also sent a junior minister to handle the issue, he added.