Former AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala got five-day parole to look after her ailing husband nearly eight months after she was sent to jail. She was convicted in a corruption case in which former Tamil Nadu chief minister late J Jayalalitha, too, was an accused.
Here are key developments concerning the AIADMK and Sasikala since Jayalalithaa’s death.
December 5, 2016: Chief minister J Jayalalithaa dies at Chennai’s Apollo Hospital at the age of 68, weeks after she was admitted there. O Panneerselvam, popularly known as OPS, is sworn in as chief minister.
February 5, 2017: OPS resigns as the CM for “personal reasons.” VK Sasikala is elected as the head of the legislative party.
February 10: Sasikala takes 129 MLAs and keeps them at a resort to prevent any defections to OPS’ camp.
December 29: Sasikala appointed the general secretary of the AIADMK.
February 14: Sasikala is convicted in the DA case and is sentenced to four years in jail. Edappadi K Palaniswami is appointed head of the legislature party. OPS expelled from the AIADMK.
February 15: A day after being convicted by the Supreme Court, Sasikala surrenders before Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara jail.
March 23: The Election Commission freezes the ‘two leaf’ election symbol of the AIADMK and bars both O Panneerselvam as well as party interim general secretary Sasikala from using it.
August 17: CM Palanisami orders a judicial investigation into the death of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa.
August 21: The two AIADMK warring factions merge, as chief minister E Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam reach an agreement. Former Tamil Nadu chief minister Panneerselvam takes oath as the deputy chief minister.
October 6: Sasikala released on parole.