V. K. Sasikala

Vivekanandan Krishnaveni Sasikala, known as V. K. Sasikala, was born on 18 August 1954. She emerged as a prominent figure in Indian politics, particularly in Tamil Nadu, where she was a close confidante of the late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. Following Jayalalithaa's passing in 2016, Sasikala was elected as the interim secretary-general of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), marking a significant moment in her political career.

In February 2017, Sasikala was elected as the leader of the AIADMK in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, making her the Chief Minister-designate. However, her ambitions were abruptly halted when the Supreme Court of India convicted her in a disproportionate-assets case, leading to her imprisonment in Bangalore Central Prison. During her incarceration, she played a pivotal role in selecting Edappadi K. Palaniswami as the next Chief Minister.

Despite her initial influence, Sasikala faced challenges as Palaniswami and other ministers removed her from her party position and expelled her from the AIADMK in September 2017. After her release in January 2021, she initiated legal action against her expulsion, which was upheld by the Madras High Court in December 2023. Her nephew, T. T. V. Dhinakaran, founded the Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazhagam (AMMK) in March 2018, with Sasikala initially serving as its general secretary.

However, internal disagreements led to her departure from AMMK, which subsequently allied with the AIADMK. In March 2026, Sasikala joined a new political party established by her supporters, the All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AIPTMMK), continuing her political journey amidst the evolving landscape of Tamil Nadu politics.