Chennai: A mug shot of hers on wall posters in Tirunelveli town announced the arrival of Sasikala Pushpa in politics in 2010. The small photograph declared the office-bearer as the new deputy secretary of Ilaignar Ilampengal Pasarai (youth brigade of AIADMK). Local leaders would not have imagined then that this political novice would stun Tamil Nadu six years later with her no-holds-barred attack on the party high command.
From a low-level position in the party through Tuticorin mayor to Rajya Sabha MP, it has indeed been an eventful and meteoric rise for Sasikala Pushpa. In the last two days, however, she has fallen precipitously, say observers. But they also add that her 'brazen' statement on the floor of the House may not have come at the spur of the moment, but was probably a well thought out move orchestrated by her political "managers," say party sources.
"Her acquaintance with a Tuticorin-based mineral exporter was a ticket to bigger things in the AIADMK. Posts fell on her lap like fruits," said a senior leader. A native of Mudalur near Sathankulam in Tuticorin district, Sasikala Pushpa was declared party candidate for Radhapuram assembly seat in Tirunelveli in 2011.
Her resume at that time boasted of degrees in English literature, public administration, and studies in Southern Cross University, Singapore, which have since come under a cloud. But the joy was short-lived when AIADMK struck a poll deal with Vijayakanth's DMDK at the eleventh hour and the seat was lost to Michael Rayappan, who later switched loyalty to AIADMK.
More surprises were in store. She went on to become Tuticorin mayor with a winning margin of 23,250 votes. "She was relatively unknown here, but she was Amma's candidate and everyone worked for her victory. Today, she is taking on our leadership with no gratitude. It is nothing short of a drama for her survival," a local leader said. However, the post fell vacant in 18 months, after Jayalalithaa nominated her to Rajya Sabha and made her the party whip. It was here - on the third row of the House precisely - that she met "decent fellow" Trichy Siva, sitting next to her.
Controversial photographs of the two together (though alleged to have been morphed) were the talking point in party headquarters before May polls. But what truly brought her into the bad books of the party high command were leaked audio clips of her conversation with a male friend about the mismanagement of December floods by the district administration. "While she gleefully garlanded Amma at the party's general council meet in Chennai on December 31, the leader quickly removed her next week from the post of women's wing secretary," said an AIADMK MP.
Her profile in Rajya Sabha website has this to say about Sasikala Pushpa: Bharatanatyam dancer; coaching IAS aspirants.
From a low-level position in the party through Tuticorin mayor to Rajya Sabha MP, it has indeed been an eventful and meteoric rise for Sasikala Pushpa. In the last two days, however, she has fallen precipitously, say observers. But they also add that her 'brazen' statement on the floor of the House may not have come at the spur of the moment, but was probably a well thought out move orchestrated by her political "managers," say party sources.
"Her acquaintance with a Tuticorin-based mineral exporter was a ticket to bigger things in the AIADMK. Posts fell on her lap like fruits," said a senior leader. A native of Mudalur near Sathankulam in Tuticorin district, Sasikala Pushpa was declared party candidate for Radhapuram assembly seat in Tirunelveli in 2011.
Her resume at that time boasted of degrees in English literature, public administration, and studies in Southern Cross University, Singapore, which have since come under a cloud. But the joy was short-lived when AIADMK struck a poll deal with Vijayakanth's DMDK at the eleventh hour and the seat was lost to Michael Rayappan, who later switched loyalty to AIADMK.
More surprises were in store. She went on to become Tuticorin mayor with a winning margin of 23,250 votes. "She was relatively unknown here, but she was Amma's candidate and everyone worked for her victory. Today, she is taking on our leadership with no gratitude. It is nothing short of a drama for her survival," a local leader said. However, the post fell vacant in 18 months, after Jayalalithaa nominated her to Rajya Sabha and made her the party whip. It was here - on the third row of the House precisely - that she met "decent fellow" Trichy Siva, sitting next to her.
Controversial photographs of the two together (though alleged to have been morphed) were the talking point in party headquarters before May polls. But what truly brought her into the bad books of the party high command were leaked audio clips of her conversation with a male friend about the mismanagement of December floods by the district administration. "While she gleefully garlanded Amma at the party's general council meet in Chennai on December 31, the leader quickly removed her next week from the post of women's wing secretary," said an AIADMK MP.
Her profile in Rajya Sabha website has this to say about Sasikala Pushpa: Bharatanatyam dancer; coaching IAS aspirants.