Chennai, Feb 24: VK Sasikala, the expelled leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), hinted at a significant political move on Tuesday, stating that "good news will come" ahead of the birth anniversary celebrations of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Sasikala's remarks sparked further speculation regarding her future in politics, with many anticipating an announcement about the launch of a new political party following her expulsion from AIADMK.
Speaking to reporters, Sasikala shared, "Today there is an event for Amma's birthday. We are conducting an event for her birthday in which good news will come." Her comments come amid ongoing discussions about her potential political resurgence, particularly in light of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in 2026.
Before making her statement, Sasikala paid floral tributes to both AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa, marking the occasion of Amma's birth anniversary.
Earlier this month, Sasikala, who was once the Acting General Secretary of AIADMK and a close aide to Jayalalithaa, met with her supporters in Chennai, further fueling rumors of a possible return to politics. Sasikala, who was expelled from the AIADMK after being convicted in the disproportionate assets case, has her sights set on a potential comeback in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.
Arasan, a long-time supporter of Sasikala, expressed his loyalty, saying, "We are with Chinnamma (Sasikala) and will stand by her no matter what. Whatever decision she takes in the upcoming 2026 elections, we will stand by Chinnamma. I have been a loyal supporter of VK Sasikala and her husband, Natarajan, since childhood. This will always continue."
The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will take place in the first half of 2026, with the MK Stalin-led alliance aiming to secure a win by promoting the "Dravidian Model 2.0" against the BJP-AIADMK alliance. The entry of actor-turned-politician Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is expected to make the upcoming elections a three-way contest.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) won a total of 159 seats, with the DMK securing 133 seats and its allies, including Congress, securing additional seats. Meanwhile, the NDA alliance, led by AIADMK, secured 75 seats, with AIADMK emerging as the largest party in the alliance with 66 seats.
