Sasikala returns to the AIADMK fold

Expelled former aide of Jayalalithaa, Sasikala Natarajan has returned to the party after disowning her family and swearing loyalty once more to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

Once a close friend Jayalalithaa, Sasikala fell from grace and was summarily expelled from the party along with her husband and other close relatives on December 19, 2011 and other party members were forbidden to have any contact with them. Though no official reason was issued by Jayalalithaa herself, according to sources inside the party, interference of Sasikala's family members in the administration and political overreach and conspiring against Jayalaithaa were the reasons for their expulsion.

After 100 days of her expulsion from the party and Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence, Sasikala issued a statement on 29 March, 2012, disowning her family. "I have snapped all my ties with all those who betrayed akka (elder sister). What those who claimed to be my relatives and friends have done against 'akka' is an unforgivable betrayal. Irrespective of who they are, such persons are unwanted people to me too," Sasikala said in her statement which was first aired in the Jaya Plus TV channel. She also took great efforts for rapprochement with Jayalalithaa by saying that she had never thought of betraying Jayalalithaa even in her dreams.

Apparently, her apology has been accepted as the orders against her have been revoked by Jayalalithaa. Her expulsion from party affairs has also been revoked.