Just minutes after Jayalalithaa was laid to rest next to her mentor MGR at his memorial in Chennai’s Marina beach, her close aide Sasikala’s husband, M Natarajan, who was once a key member of Jayalalithaa’s political team, said that the AIADMK will continue under the legacy of Jayalalithaa and MGR, and that no one person can steal it away.

Speaking to News18 Tamil, he said, “When we laid MGR to rest several years ago, at the same spot, we had decided that Jayalalithaa would be our leader for the next 25 years. She carried forward MGR’s legacy for more than 28 years. Nobody can steal away what our Amma has seeded. Even a normal member of the party can take the party forward.”

He refused to answer who will lead the party after Jayalalithaa.

His interview, and proximity to political leaders who visited Jayalalithaa during her public homage, clearly signal his return to the top echelons of AIADMK’s power structure.

AIADMK party leaders are however not surprised at Natarajan's return. "The family is in full flow. They are smart. If they don't act now, when will they? It had to be done even before Amma was buried," a leader said to TNM.

But were they happy with the family's immediate 'takeover' of the party? "There was no time to react. Everyone is under immense shock and it seems the family was prepared with their strategy. Once that initial shock passes away, maybe some leaders will question it," said another leader.

There are also reports that few posters have been put up hailing him as the leader. 

Natarajan has not been in Jayalalithaa's close circle for several years now, with the late CM preferring to stay away from him. 

Watch his interview here.