Ready to Face Any Probe, Jayalalithaa Knows Who I am, Says VK Sasikala

VK Sasikala speaks to Network 18 Senior Editor S Gunasekaran (News18)

Chennai: AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala has said she is ready to face any probe over the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, in an exclusive interview to Network18.

Sitting down for her first interview after she was anointed by the party as the next Tamil Nadu chief minister, Sasikala told Network 18 Senior Editor S Gunasekaran that she had no reason to answer anyone.

“Amma Jayalalitha knows who am I, I don’t need to answer anyone,” she said, in an obvious reference to the rebellion being mounted by O Panneerselvam, the caretaker chief minister who has now broken into his own.

Earlier, Panneerselvam had ordered a probe into what he said were “doubts” regarding the death of Jayalalithaa, which would be headed by a retired High Court judge. He had also accused Sasikala of not allowing him to meet the late CM when she was hospitalized for over 70 days.

Sasikala was unanimously elected as the party’s CM nominee last Sunday but AIADMK is yet to get an invitation from Governor Vidyasagar Rao for swearing in. The delay in governor’s response has had tongues wagging on if the Centre is weighing in favour of Panneerselvam.

However, talking to Network18, Sasikala put the blame on the doors of state opposition DMK.

“DMK must behind Pannerselvam’s recent activities,” she said in the interview, although DMK working president MK Stalin has vehemently denied his party had anything to do with it.

Sasikala’s elevation that looked like a given on Sunday after AIADMK legislative party unanimously “requested” her to take charge as the CM looked uncertain two days later as Governor Vidyasagar Rao, who is the Governor of Maharashtra and holds the additional charge of Tamil Nadu, hasn’t clarified when he will be returning to Chennai from Mumbai.

With the Supreme Court expected to deliver its verdict in the disproportionate assets case against Sasikala and others next week, political uncertainty is growing as opposition parties attacked the move to elevate her as chief minister and the AIADMK coming out in strong defence of her.