Chennai: Expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala has been holding meetings with her supporters for the past two days to discuss about her move for the upcoming assembly election.Sasikala’s Poes Garden residence saw a steady flow of visitors for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. Her supporters say that Sasikala has been weighing the option of fielding candidates in the assembly election. She lined up more meetings in the coming days.Her supporters say her brother V K Dhivakaran had registered a political party named Anna Dravidar Kazhagam (ADK) in 2018 when he had a rift with AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran. If Sasikala decides to field candidates, ADK could be used as the banner under which her supporters would enter the fray. Sasikala, however, would not be able to contest anyone convicted for more than two years of jail term would be barred from contesting for six years after their release. She was released from prison on January 27, 2021, after completing her 4-year sentence in the disproportionate assets case.Former AIADMK functionaries, who are now in Sasikala’s camp, said she “certainly take part in the poll process.’ Former Tiruttani MLA Narasimhan told TOI that her supporters urged her to field candidates in the assembly elections, especially in constituencies where there was a sizeable number of thevar population like Usilampatti. Narasimhan said, for his part he has begun preparatory work in Tiruttani. Sasikala’s supporters say that a section of thevars who were supporting Dhinakaran after his split from AIADMK were upset after he joined NDA. “They would back Sasikala’s candidates,” said a Sasikala loyalist. Recently, AMMK student wing leader Jeevitha Nachiyar had called on Sasikala, inviting her immediate sacking from AMMK by Dhinakaran. “There are a few more AMMK functionaries who are upset with Dhinakaran and would shift their support to Sasikala if she fields candidates,” a longtime supporter said.
