Ex AIADMK Leader Sasikala Announces New Dravidian Party Ahead of 2026 Polls

Expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala on Tuesday formally signalled her return to active politics, announcing plans to launch a new Dravidian political party and presenting its flag on the 78th birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Speaking at a public meeting in Ramanathapuram, Sasikala said she could no longer remain silent, arguing that doing so would amount to letting down the people of Tamil Nadu and party cadres who continued to believe in the legacy of the AIADMK. Framing her move as a moral obligation, she said the proposed party would work for the poor and marginalised and follow the ideological path laid down by C N Annadurai, M G Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa.

Sasikala, who once served as the AIADMK's acting general secretary and was among Jayalalithaa's closest aides, was expelled from the party after her conviction in the disproportionate assets case. Since her release, she has largely stayed away from frontline politics - a silence she now says has ended.

She unveiled the new party flag featuring black, white and red colours, with portraits of Annadurai, MGR and Jayalalithaa. While the party's name has not yet been announced, Sasikala said the decision to launch a new political outfit was final and irreversible.

Sharp criticism of AIADMK leadership

Without directly naming AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, Sasikala accused the current leadership of betraying her trust and weakening the party. She said she played a decisive role in elevating him to the Chief Minister's post after Jayalalithaa's death but was later removed through a party resolution.

Sasikala claimed she had not fully understood his character at the time and alleged that senior leaders were systematically sidelined after he took charge, leading to what she described as the steady decline of the AIADMK.

Allegations of personal vendetta

Recounting her time in prison, Sasikala alleged that even the parole granted to her was interfered with following political instructions. She claimed restrictions were imposed during her parole period, including at the time of her husband's death, and alleged that there were attempts to arrest her at the Tamil Nadu border after her release.

According to Sasikala, the actions taken against her were driven by political vendetta rather than governance concerns. She also claimed the AIADMK had suffered repeated electoral defeats since her removal and failed to perform its role as a strong opposition.

Recalling 2016 power struggle

Sasikala revisited the events following Jayalalithaa's death in 2016, saying ministers and MLAs had urged her to take over as Chief Minister that very night. However, she said she declined and instead backed O Panneerselvam to continue in the role, prioritising stability over personal ambition.

Drawing a historical parallel, Sasikala compared her situation to that of MGR, who was expelled from the DMK despite helping M Karunanidhi rise to power.

Eye on 2026 elections

With the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly scheduled to go to polls in early 2026, Sasikala's announcement marks a significant attempt to re-enter the Dravidian political space. The election is expected to see the ruling M K Stalin-led alliance push its 'Dravidian Model 2.0', while the BJP-AIADMK combine and emerging forces recalibrate their strategies.

Sasikala said her new party would aim to reclaim what she called the original spirit of the Dravidian movement, positioning herself once again as a central player in Tamil Nadu's evolving political landscape.