Expelled All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader V. K. Sasikala on Thursday announced the name of her new political party, calling it All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munetra Kazhagam. She also unveiled the party’s official symbol, a coconut tree farm.
During the announcement, Sasikala fondly remembered the founder of the AIADMK, M. G. Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR. She said MGR had established the party to serve the people and oppose the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, emphasising that it was founded with a commitment to champion the cause of the poor.
“MGR started the party for the people. The reason was to stand against the DMK. MGR’s party was started for the poor. A single tree will not become a farm. We have come as a farm with our party cadres and people,” Sasikala said.
Earlier, Sasikala had announced plans to launch a new Dravidian party and introduced the party flag on the occasion of the 78th birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
Addressing a public meeting in Ramanathapuram to commemorate Jayalalithaa, Sasikala criticised her former colleague and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, accusing him of betrayal and claiming that the party had declined under his leadership.
Sasikala, who once served as the acting general secretary of the AIADMK and was a close aide of Jayalalithaa, was expelled from the party after being convicted in a disproportionate assets case.
“If I continue to remain silent as I have for the past nine years, it would amount to a betrayal of the people of Tamil Nadu. Therefore, for the sake of the people of Tamil Nadu and our party cadres, we are going to launch a new party. We are starting a new Dravidian party that will follow the path of Perarignar Anna, Puratchi Thalaivar MGR and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma. It will function as a party for the poor and common people and will uproot enemies and traitors,” she said.
Sasikala also introduced the party flag, which features black, white and red colours along with images of C. N. Annadurai, MGR and Jayalalithaa.
“For now, I am only introducing the party flag. I have not yet announced the party’s name. I will announce it soon. There will be no change in this decision,” she added.
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