On Thursday, Tamil Nadu will be keenly watching a meeting at the Srivaru Kalyana Mandapam in Vanagaram, in the outskirts of Chennai city.
The General Council and Executive Committee meeting of TN's ruling party AIADMK will be held for the first time after the death of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on December 5, 2016.
About 2,770 AIADMK members are part of the General Council which includes MPs, MLAs, district secretaries and other members.
Will Sasikala attend the General Council meeting?
It is unlikely that she will attend the meeting. Though Sasikala is a member of the party's Executive Committee, sources in the AIADMK told The News Minute that it is unlikely that she will attend the meeting. She has been advised not to go for the party meeting till the party passes a resolution declaring her as the General Secretary.
However, some leaders believe that she may attend the meeting if things get volatile and 'emotionally charged' members demand her presence.
What will transpire in the meeting?
The party will first pay tribute to their leader Jayalalithaa and pass a resolution mentioning their condolences. The resolution may seek a Bharat Ratna for Jayalalithaa.
They might also pay tribute to Cuba’s revolutionary leader and former president Fidel Castro.
In the past, the party has made Periyar the permanent ‘president’ of the organisation, in the same vein, there are speculations that Jayalalithaa might be conferred with the title of permanent General Secretary of the party.
The second resolution will declare that the party wants Sasikala to take over as the General Secretary or joint General Secretary of the party. The terminology is irrelevant as the meeting will declare Sasikala as party chief.
Will there be an election or notification of an election?
In normal circumstances, if there is an election for the post of General Secretary, nominations would have been invited and elections held. But senior party leaders insist that since there is no scope of an election, and it will be a unanimous resolution endorsed by primary members of all party units. Each district will also endorse the resolution.
Will party bylaws be amended?
The party's bylaws state that general body can elect the General Secretary who has completed five years as a member of the party. In such a scenario, the party is likely to bring an amendment to the bye law. The amendment will allow Sasikala Natrajan who has not completed five years in the party to become General Secretary.