Sasikala takes over as AIADMK chief

Chennai

V K Sasikaa on Saturday formally assumed charge as the general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the ruling party of Tamil Nadu. Soon after signing the papers at her room at the AIADMK headquarters in the city and having a brief discussion with party seniors including chief minister O Panneerselvam, she delivered an emotional address to party workers, in which she vowed to follow the footsteps of former CM and party supremo J Jayalalithaa, who died earlier this month

She recalled her association with Jayalalithaa and said during the 75-days of her hospitalisaton, she recovered well. ''When we all thought that she will return home soon, suddenly she suffered a cardiac arrest and left us, a void which could never be fulfilled by any one'', she said.

Sasikala said in order to fulfil a wish of Jayalalithaa, the centenary of party founder and former chief minister M G Ramachandran will be celebrated for a year from January 17, 2017. She also urged the central government to release a stamp to mark MGR centenary.

"Amma sacrified her entire life for the people and the party. We will continue our journey in a successful manner," he said. Earlier, when she reached AIADMK headquarters, she was accorded a warm welcome by scores of party workers, who hailed 'Chinnamma vazhga' (long live junior mother).

On Friday evening, a day after the AIADMK general council passed resolution appointing her as general secretary, Sasikala visited the memorials of Jayalalithaa, MGR and C N Annadurai at Marina and paid floral tributes.