Sasikala launches political party, unveils flag
The Hindu
Sasikala launches a new political party, pledging to support the marginalized while addressing past grievances against former leaders.
During a public meeting in Kamuthi on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) to mark the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, her aide V.K. Sasikala announced her decision to launch a political party. She unveiled the party’s flag — featuring black, white, and red — which carries the portraits of former Chief Ministers C.N. Annadurai, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), and Jayalalithaa.
Addressing the gathering, Ms. Sasikala, who cannot contest the upcoming Assembly elections due to her disqualification under the Representation of People Act owing to her conviction in a corruption case, said her soon-to-be named party would follow the Dravidian path established by these three leaders. “The party would champion the cause of the poor and marginalised while eliminating both enemies and traitors,” she added.
She claimed she was returning to active politics as remaining silent any longer would be a betrayal to the people of Tamil Nadu and her party workers.
She took an indirect jab at former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, saying she did not even wish to utter the name of the person who had “betrayed her” after coming to power.
“I am the person who was by Amma’s (Jayalalitha) side, witnessing everything — the good and the bad. We were in the hospital for 72 days. We were even prepared to bring her back home on an auspicious day. But, in a way no one expected, she suddenly suffered a heart attack,” she said.
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