Sasikala Set to Unveil Candidates for Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections on Jayalalithaa’s Birth Anniversary
Announcement expected on Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary as the former AIADMK leader eyes a political comeback.
Tamil Nadu, Feb 10 : V.K. Sasikala is preparing to contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections by fielding candidates in select constituencies, signalling a renewed bid to re-establish her political relevance in the state.
People familiar with the developments say her strategy is likely to focus on the southern districts and the Thevar belt, regions where she is still believed to command a measure of loyalty. Her supporters are expected to enter the fray under the Anna Dravidiar Kazhagam, a party founded in 2018 by her brother V.K. Divakaran.
The planned move is being interpreted as an effort to build an independent political identity after remaining largely on the sidelines in recent years. Sasikala has reportedly been consulting longtime associates and former functionaries to gauge ground-level support and determine the extent of her electoral push.
As part of these preparations, she is said to be organising a public rally in Kallakurichi district in the second week of February to energise cadres and demonstrate organisational strength.
A formal statement outlining her political roadmap is anticipated on February 24, which coincides with the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa — a date that carries strong emotional resonance among her followers. Analysts believe the timing is intended to invoke Jayalalithaa’s legacy and appeal to cadres who still associate Sasikala with that political tradition.
Once a central figure within the AIADMK and briefly its interim general secretary after Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016, Sasikala’s trajectory shifted following her conviction in a disproportionate assets case that resulted in a four-year jail term and her expulsion from the party. AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami has since ruled out any possibility of her return.
Her ties with nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran have also remained uneasy, with several Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam members previously removed for staying in contact with her. Efforts to forge alliances with the AIADMK or the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance have yet to materialise.
With the state heading toward a crucial electoral contest, Sasikala’s decision to field candidates may ultimately test whether she can reclaim political significance or continue to operate from the margins of Tamil Nadu politics.
