J Jayalalithaa with Sasikala. File photoChennai: Jayalalithaa was a lone warrior. During her illustrious movie career and later when she emerged as one of the powerful politicians in the country, Jaya was always guided by her instincts.
She had it all; power, fame, money, and an enviable political career, but she was lonely deep inside. That could be the reason for her to have Sasikala Natarajan as a trusted lieutenant and soulmate.
Friendship of that kind was unparalleled in Indian political history. Love, trust, commitment, emotional blackmail and treachery; their engrossing story had all the ingredients of a Bollywood masala movie.
The relationship of around three decades had its ups and downs and twists and turns. Sasikala's journey from Mannargudi, a small town near Thanjavur, to 'Veda Nilayam', Jayalalithaa's residence in upscale Poes Garden, to be one of the most influential individuals in the entire state, was astonishing.
Sasikala's husband Natarajan was a leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) youth wing. He was working as a government public relations officer on temporary basis when he lost his job during the Emergency. To eke out a living, Sasikala bought a camera and started running a video-tape shop. A major chunk of her assignments involved covering public functions of politicians.
At that time, Jayalalithaa was firming up her grip on the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIDMK), the party founded by her mentor M.G. Ramachandran. Natarajan approached the then District Collector of Cuddalore V.S. Chandralekha IAS to put in a word with Jayalalithaa to secure the right to shoot the leader's public events.
She approved the proposal, allowing Sasikala to break into her inner circles.
Soon, Jayalalithaa went through one of the most difficult times in her life. Following the death of MGR, a simmering factional feud surfaced in the AIADMK, resulting in a split in the party.
Jayalalithaa with Sasikala during her visit to a temple in Kerala. File photoThough the Karunanidhi-led DMK captured power in the election that followed, the emergence of Jayalalithaa as the numero uno of the AIADMK was the highlight of the Tamil Nadu politics during that period. There were talks that it was Natarajan who pulled the strings through Sasikala to help Jayalalithaa ascend higher rungs in the political ladder. Eventually, Sasikala, along with her family, shifted to the Poes Garden. She was even given the power to handpick servants to run Jayalalithaa's house.
Over a period of time, Sasikala became the closest companion of Jayalalithaa and stood by her in good times as well as bad times. When Jayalalithaa became chief minister in 1991, Sasikala got the opportunity to hold the strings of power while providing her emotional and managerial support.
She had a say in each and every important decision at 'Veda Nilayam' and handled all matters related to Jayalalithaa.
Visitors needed to get permission from Sasikala, known as 'Chinnamma', to meet 'Amma'. The extended family of Sasikala literally run Tamil Nadu when the AIADMK was in power. They were also alleged to have amassed wealth and properties alongside political influence within the AIADMK. But Jayalalithaa was unaware of their clandestine deals. There were widespread criticisms that it was the 'Mannargudi Mafia' which really held the reins of power in Tamil Nadu. However, Jayalalithaa ignored the rumors as she had an unflinching faith in Sasikala and her family.
Over the years, charges of corruption surfaced one after another, most of which had direct involvement of the 'Mannargudi Mafia'. Following the elections in 1996, Jayalalithaa was thrown out of power. She was arrested in the Rs 8.53-crore color television scam. It was alleged that the amount through the TV dealers were routed in the form of cheques to a relative of Sasikala. However, Jayalalithaa was acquitted by the court on May 30, 2000.
Jayalalithaa was also charge-sheeted as an accused in many other corruption cases. She was accused of acquiring at least Rs 66.65 crore in assets that could not be explained by her known income, during her first term as chief minister. Sasikala, her foster son Sudhakaran and another aide Ilavarasi, were also named as accused in the case.
The twist in the tale came during the 2011 elections, when the 'Mannargudi Mafia' plotted Jayalalithaa's downfall. They allegedly collected about Rs 300 crore by selling tickets for the assembly election to their cronies and sympathizers. They also started planning for the anointment of Sasikala as the chief minister. Intelligence agencies warned Jayalalithaa of the conspiracy. Narendra Modi, who was the Gujarat chief minister then, also alerted her about the moves by the 'Mannargudi Mafia'.
Acting swiftly, she expelled Sasikala and 12 of her close aides from the party. They were also asked to pack up and leave her house.
But it did not last long. Jayalaithaa recalled Sasikala the very next year and she once again became the most trusted companion of her. It underlined the strong and deep relationship between the two.
