Ramanathapuram / Chennai — In a dramatic political development just weeks ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, senior leader V.K. Sasikala formally launched a new political party, unveiling its flag in a mass rally on 24 February 2026. The event held in Sasikala’s stronghold of Ramanathapuram on the birth anniversary of late AIADMK stalwart and former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa marks her first major foray as an independent political force following her expulsion from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
With supporters and cadres in attendance, Sasikala pledged that her new party would uphold what she described as Jayalalithaa’s enduring legacy of welfare, women’s empowerment and governance rooted in grassroots outreach. The party’s flag unveiled during the launch incorporates colours and symbols that Sasikala said reflect Tamil identity and a commitment to public service. “We rise not out of personal ambition, but out of duty to the people who believe in Jayalalithaa’s vision,” Sasikala declared.
Speaking to the media, Sasikala positioned the party as an alternative to both the incumbent DMK-led alliance and the BJP-aligned opposition bloc, asserting that Tamil Nadu’s electorate deserves choices that transcend binary political rivalries. She emphasised issues such as rural development, education access, job creation and targeted support for women and youth themes are her party’s goal.
Sasikala’s political journey has been marked by controversy and resilience. Once a close confidante of Jayalalithaa, she was expelled from the AIADMK amid internal factional disputes. The launch of a new party signals both her determination to remain a central figure in state politics and her intent to leverage the emotional symbolism of Jayalalithaa’s legacy particularly among older and traditional AIADMK supporters.
Analysts say the timing of the party’s inception on a day of cultural and emotional resonance is no accident. By anchoring the launch to Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary, Sasikala has sought to foreground continuity with the late leader’s brand while carving out space for an independent political identity that can compete in a fragmented electoral landscape.
The new party’s manifesto remains broad at this stage, emphasising decentralised governance, commitment to social welfare schemes and opposition to what Sasikala termed “imported political narratives” that ignore local aspirations. While details on seat allocation or alliance negotiations have not been disclosed, the announcement has already sparked speculation among political strategists about possible realignments, especially in the AIADMK’s core constituencies.
Reactions from rival parties were swift. The AIADMK leadership, while acknowledging Sasikala’s right to engage in democratic politics, characterised her move as “fragmentary” and warned of potential vote-splitting that could benefit both the DMK and national parties. Meanwhile, the DMK dismissed the development as a pre-poll distraction, reaffirming its focus on governance performance and alliance cohesion.
As Tamil Nadu enters the final phase of electoral mobilisation, Sasikala’s new partyanchored in legacy, symbolism and a bid to reconfigure voter loyalties may emerge as a wild card in a tightly contested political theatre where alliances and sentiments will be tested at the ballot box.
