Sasikala Natarajan to take office as AIADMK general secretary today

Chennai: VK Sasikala Natarajan, close aide of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, will formally take charge as general secretary of 

AIADMK on Saturday at the party's head office in Chennai. 

AIADMK party members had unanimously adopted a resolution at the party’s general council meeting earlier, appointed Sasikala to the post.

She accepted the party resolution after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Pannerselvam later meet her at Poes Garden.

"From today Chinnamma will be the general secretary of AIADMK and will soon formally take charge," Pannerselvam had said. 

While making the appointment, Sasikala’s contribution to the growth of the party was cited.

However, many believed that Sasikala Natrajan's elevation to the top party post has less to do with her leadership qualities and more with the strong bond she shared with Jayalalithaa who held the position for three decades.

Moreover, Natarajan's take over as AIADMK chief was announced by party leaders even though she is not technically qualified to hold the 

post, The party's general secretary has to have completed five years as an active member.

Natarajan was kept away from party and government functioning by Jayalalithaa while she was alive, however, her considerable influence over key decisions is well-known to many.

Sasikala will formally take over as AIADMK party chief on January 2.