Chennai: Nearly three weeks after unveiling her party flag, expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala on Friday announced the name of her new outfit — All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AIPTMMK).The party’s symbol, alloted by the Election Commission, would be ‘thennanthoppu’ (coconut grove), Sasikala told reporters in Chennai on Friday and displayed the symbol. She chose not to give a direct response to speculation on allying with PMK founder S Ramadoss and TVK, but said she would face the elections with like-minded parties.“We will field candidates in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on the thennanthoppu symbol. It is a symbol of the people and represents unity. The party will function like a joint family,” she said. “We will explain to the people the failures of the ruling and opposition parties during the campaign,” Sasikala said. She also avoided responding to a question on former chief minister O Panneerselvam joining DMK.She sharpened her attack on DMK govt over law and order, saying crime against women and children was on the rise, and that her party’s main objective was to dethrone the present govt and establish a govt that would ensure their safety and welfare. Sasikala said AIPTMMK was registered by one of her supporters and she chose to associate herself with the party. “I am in a situation similar to that of our leader (M G Ramachandran), who once joined a party started by a cadre,” she said.
