Chennai, Dec. 8: Chief minister O. Panneerselvam and five senior ministers today met Jayalalithaa's friend and closest companion Sasikala Natarajan, providing an indication of the emerging power structure in Tamil Nadu and the AIADMK.
Sasikala does not hold any post in the government or the party and is only a member of the party's general council.
The meeting, which took place at Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence where Sasikala has been living for years, lasted over an hour. Sources said the subject of discussion was memorial meetings for Jayalalithaa on behalf of the party and the government.
"Sasikala Madam may not hold any post but she was like a sister to our Amma. So we consulted her like we would a family member of the late chief minister," a senior minister said.
Sasikala, known as " Chinnamma" (junior mother), faces considerable pressure from her family and some MLAs to take over as party general secretary, a post Jayalalithaa used to hold.
But she has so far been reluctant because she is more comfortable operating in the background and is not used to speaking from a public platform, something the post would require her to do.
"She is an average speaker, while communication is important for a party leader. She is unsure whether she would be able to carry out the responsibility," a senior MLA said.
"Comparisons with Jayalalithaa will be inevitable, and she does not want to cut a sorry figure before the public and the cadres."
Another AIADMK senior said that Sasikala had always been a backroom worker.
"She prefers to be the director and is unsure about suddenly turning director-actor. So there's a possibility of appointing someone else as general secretary - someone who would take orders from her," he said.
Sasikala has faced attacks on the social media since Jayalalithaa's death. Some posters have accused her of slow-poisoning her friend. Some have highlighted how several of her family members whom Jayalalithaa had banished from her circle dominated the funeral, pushing even ministers to the background.
