Did somebody in Poes Garden release that controversial list of 160 AIADMK candidates on Wednesday night to force Jayalalithaa’s hand into accepting the candidates mentioned in it though many did not have Amma’s approval?
That is the question haunting the minds of AIADMK cadres since not only did the list contain many undeserving candidates but also sitting seats of allies like the CPI(M) and CPI and constituencies specified by the DMDK. “There is room to suspect that the list was either released without our leader’s knowledge or with alterations to accommodate candidates who had the blessings of Sasikala’s family but not our Amma’s approval,” said a former AIADMK minister.
A close look at the list sent to the media by email and fax also reveals a discrepancy that loudly hints at foul play. In the 10-page list the first page is on the AIADMK’s letter head with the names of six candidates with Jayalalithaa’s name being the first. The tenth page ends with ten names followed by “Jayalalithaa, General Secretary, AIADMK” in bold print. Curiously there is no signature of the AIADMK supremo in spite of the importance of the announcement.
The fact that the list was released even before the seat identification process with the allies and seat accord with the MDMK had not been finalised compound the doubts about a mystery hand in Poes Garden acting without Jayalalithaa’s knowledge.
“Either an alternative list, not approved by Jayalalithaa, was released or some of the pages between page one and ten got substituted with names that included those chosen by the Mannargudi family. By making the list public the family was presenting Jayalalithaa with a fait accompli which she has to accept. But for the revolt by the allies, the family would have pushed through the entire list since Jayalalithaa wiould have looked foolish by disowning it,” said a former advisor of Jaya.
This theory finds many takers among AIADMK office-bearers since the inclusion of B. Valarmathi for Thousand Lights and former minister K.P. Krishnan at Alangudi confirms the sleight of the mystery hand. “These two were not even in Amma’s interview list as they had fallen out of favour with her. This indeed shocked many,” admitted a former minister.