India / Sasikala reaches Chennai from Bengaluru after 23-hour road trip

Chennai: After undertaking a journey for almost 23 hours from Bengaluru, VK Sasikala, former General Secretary of AIADMK and aide of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, reached Chennai in the wee hours of Tuesday. Her journey between Bengaluru and Chennai were interspersed with welcome events, so much that she reportedly made at least 30 pitstops. On her arrival in Chennai around 6.30 am on Tuesday, she received a grand welcome from her supporters as well as some AIADMK cadres. 

Sasikala, who was released in the disproportionate assets case from Parappana Agrahara prison in Bengaluru, took 23 hours to travel through a stretch that can otherwise be covered within six to seven hours. However, Sasikala stopped at every point to greet the party members and accept the welcome. She was welcomed with various events on the way, including drone show, firecrackers and floral reception. 

The journey from Bengaluru

On Monday, Sasikala started her journey from Bengaluru at 7.30 am, but was soon stopped at Jujuvadi in Krishnagiri district since there was an AIADMK flag hoisted on her vehicle, despite a warning from the party. However, Sasikala’s advocate Raja Senthoor Pandian soon intervened and ensured a smooth journey.

From Krishnagiri, she crossed Thirupattur, Vellore and Sriperumbadur to reach Chennai. During the journey, Sasikala told the party members in the presence of media persons, “Just like how Amma (J Jayalalithaa) told to run AIADMK for another 100 years after her, in order to continue her legacy, I'll live the rest of my life for the development of the party, by following the principles that family is party and party is family. All the children of Jayalalithaa are my children too.”

“The party has undergone a lot of difficulties and in all those times we should take a resolution to submit our success on the feet of Jayalalithaa. No matter how many challenges we face, we will have to face them with the blessing of Jayalalithaa,” she said while sitting in the car.

Sasikala back in Chennai

On arriving the capital city of Tamil Nadu, Sasikala first visited the home of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MG Ramachandran at Ramapuram and paid floral tributes to the leader. From Ramapuram, she travelled to her relative Vivek’s home at T Nagar, where she is expected to continue her stay in Chennai.

However, Sasikala could not visit Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden house due to the Madras High Court order against allowing the public into the home. Also, Sasikala could not visit the memorial of Jayalalitha as the memorial has been closed due to maintenance works.