VK Sasikala, a close associate of late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, has been unanimously chosen as the leader of the AIADMK.

“The resolution to appoint ‘Chinnamma’ (Sasikala) as General Secretary of the AIADMK was passed unanimously in the general council today. She is the General Secretary from today and will soon go to the party headquarters and start work,” Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam informed the media. The resolution stated that Sasikala’s name was the only one that had cropped up among the 1.5 crore supporters of the AIADMK as she had been a close confidante of Jayalalithaa, had supported her for over three decades, and was the only one qualified to lead the party.

Earlier in the day the ruling party’s executive council resolved to select Sasikala as its leader. The selection became necessary following the demise of Jayalalithaa, who was also the AIADMK’s General Secretary, earlier this month.

Panneerselvam, along with a delegation of senior AIADMK leaders, met with Sasikala at Jayalalithaa’s residence in Poes Garden to seek her acceptance of the party’s decision.

The Chief Minister said Sasikala had “fully accepted” the responsibility given to her.

Case over Jaya’s death Earlier in the day, the Madras High Court raised doubts over the cause of Jayalalithaa’s demise and said that the truth must come out.

“The media has raised a lot of doubts; personally I also have doubts,” said Justice Vaidyanathan, hearing a petition demanding an inquiry into the former AIADMK chief’s death.

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