Chennai: After putting in place a plan of succession, following her conviction in the DA case, by electing PWD Minister Edappadi K Palanaswami, as the leader of the AIADMK Legislative Party in her place, re-admitting two of her nephews into the party and making one of them--former MP T T V Dinakaran as the Deputy General Secretary--Party Chief V K Sasikala today left for Bengaluru to surrender before a court there, after taking an emotional vow at the memorial of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
After paying floral tributes to a portrait of her long term close aide, Sasikala left the Poes Garden residence and proceeded to Jaya's memorial on the Marina beach front, where she took an emotional vow after paying floral tributes. En route to Bangalore, she also visited the Ramapuram residence of AIADMK founder and former CM MGR and garlanded his statue. After meditating for a few minutes, she proceeded to Bangalore by road, along with two of her close family members--J Ilavarasi and V N Sudhagaran--who were also convicted along with her in the disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa by the Supreme Court.
Yesterday, while passing orders on the case, the Apex Court had directed Sasikala and others to surrender before the Trial Court immediately. Today morning, Counsel for Sasikala made a mention in the court seeking time for her surrender on health grounds, but the Apex court said it would not modify its order and asked her to surrender immediately, following which she left for Bangalore by road. (UNI)