Ms. Sasikala who arrived at the party headquarters at 12.12 p.m. garlanded the statue of MGR even as a few women cadre raised the slogan “Puratchi Thalaivi Vaazhga“. A few seconds later they chanted “chinnamma Vaazhga“.
After garlanding the statue, Ms. Sasikala, flanked by senior party members and Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, went inside the headquarters building to the office room of the general secretary. They were closeted inside for more than 20 minutes.
Ms. Sasikala then came out to the balcony on the first floor, greeted partymen with folded hands and left. She then went inside and addressed party members.
“It was shocking that she [Jayalalithaa] died suddenly. She has left us leaderless. For Amma, this organisation was life. For me she was my life,” the new general secretary said.
