Chennai, Feb 15 (NationPress) In a notable political move leading up to the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, V. K. Sasikala, the ousted interim General Secretary of the AIADMK and a close confidante of the late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, has initiated extensive consultations with her supporters across Tamil Nadu.

The meetings, which commenced earlier this week, are perceived as a prelude to an important announcement regarding her faction’s electoral strategy.

Insiders close to Sasikala indicate that she is engaging in discussions with former legislators, district-level leaders, and long-standing supporters to evaluate the political landscape and the organizational strength of her faction.

These consultations will continue until February 18, with a decisive announcement expected before February 24, coinciding with Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary — a date imbued with emotional significance for AIADMK supporters.

Despite not holding any official role in the AIADMK, Sasikala maintains that she is the rightful General Secretary. Her supporters contend that it is time for her faction to actively participate in electoral politics, unlike the previous 2021 Assembly election when they remained inactive.

A senior member of her group stated that these discussions are aimed at encouraging Sasikala to ensure her faction “enters the electoral arena and asserts its presence,” suggesting that the parent party is no longer being managed according to the principles of its founders, M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa.

It is important to note that Sasikala is ineligible to contest the 2026 elections due to her ongoing disqualification stemming from a corruption conviction in 2017. Her period of ineligibility is expected to conclude early next year.

Her nephew, T.T.V. Dhinakaran, established the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) in 2018, initially appointing Sasikala as General Secretary while she was incarcerated. He later took over the position and has since adopted independent political stances.

Meanwhile, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has dismissed the possibility of reintegrating Sasikala or former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam into the party.

Sasikala’s camp perceives the AIADMK's recent electoral defeats, including losses in districts like Tiruvallur, as indicative of organizational frailty. They are considering all potential alliances, including coordination with Panneerselvam or other regional parties, as she prepares to make a crucial decision.