<p>In an anti-climax that will cheer the AIADMK, its ousted general secretary V K Sasikala on Wednesday announced her decision to “step aside” from politics after it became clear that the current leadership of the party, once she controlled from the sidelines, was hesitant to take her back.</p>.<p>The dramatic announcement by Sasikala comes exactly a week after she appealed to the “true loyalists” of Jayalalithaa to “unite” to ensure that the AIADMK government is voted back to power in upcoming assembly elections.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/sasikala-steps-aside-from-politics-ahead-of-tamil-nadu-assembly-polls-says-she-never-aspired-for-any-post-957721.html">Sasikala 'steps aside' from politics ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, says she never aspired for any post</a></strong></p>.<p>Tamil Nadu is set to go to polls on April 6 in a single phase, with campaigning already in full swing among major political players in the state.</p>.<p>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Monday finalised a seat-sharing pact with two parties — Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and Manidhaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) — for the polls. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu’s ruling AIADMK sealed its alliance with Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) on Saturday by allotting 23 seats for the elections.</p>.<p>Sasikala's exit from the race may be a matter to cheer for several Opposition parties and the AIADMK after the leader said that she never aspired for any political position. Here are some of the key players in the race to Fort St George.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/tamil-nadu-assembly-elections-2021">All you need to know about Tamil Nadu Assembly elections</a></strong></p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/edappadi-k-palaniswami"><strong>Edappadi K. Palaniswami</strong></a></p>.<p>Palamiswami is the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and took over as the CM after the death of enigmatic AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa. He is the joint coordinator of the party with O Panneerselvam. Palaniswami entered politics as a volunteer for AIADMK in 1974 and later became an important member of the party in Salem. He won the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections four times, in 1989, 1991, 2011 and 2016. In 1998, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Edappadi constituency.</p>.<p>Palaniswami became the Chief Minister after O Panneerselvam resigned in 2017 shortly after J Jayalalithaa passed away.</p>.<p>He is now the AIADMK's CM face for the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/o-panneerselvam"><strong>O Panneerselvam</strong></a></p>.<p>O Panneerselvam is the Deputy Chief Minister and joint coordinator of AIADMK. He was close to Jayalalithaa and often functioned as the CM when Jayalalithaa was unable to head the government. His first term as CM was started on September 2001 and lasted six months after the Supreme Court barred Jayalalithaa from holding office.</p>.<p>He was again entrusted with the responsibility of being Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 29 September 2014 when Jayalalitha was convicted in the disproportionate assets case. In 2016, he was elected as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after Jayalalithaa passed away. However, he resigned in 2017 and was later expelled by V K Sasikala. After his expulsion, the Governor invited Palaniswami to form the government.</p>.<p>He was speculated earlier to be the CM face for AIADMK, but sitting CM Palaniswami was chosen to be the CM if the party gained majority seats.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/there-is-no-place-for-sasikala-dhinakaran-in-party-aiadmk-957604.html?_ga=2.147234359.1696788093.1614734559-596657051.1579855118">There is no place for Sasikala, Dhinakaran in party: AIADMK</a></strong></p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/m-k-stalin-parties-for-tamil-nadu-assembly-polls-956914.html"><strong>M K Stalin</strong></a></p>.<p>DMK president M K Stalin is the son of former chief minister late M Karunanidhi. Stalin started his political career early with DMK and won for the first time from Thousand Light constituency in Chennai in 1989. After which, he transitioned to become the Mayor of Chennai and later on Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu under his father M Karunanidhi.</p>.<p>He became the president of DMK after the demise of Karunanidhi.</p>.<p>Stalin is currently the Leader of the Opposition and is set to become the CM for the first time if the DMK-Congress alliance is able to secure majority seats.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/kamal-haasan"><strong>Kamal Haasan</strong></a></p>.<p>Popular Tamil actor Kamal Haasan formed Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) in 2018. MNM contested in the 2019 general election from 37 seats and lost all with a vote share of 3.72%. The party has allied with actor Sarathkumar's All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi and Paarivendhar's Indihya Jananayaga Katchi.</p>.<p><strong>L Murugan</strong></p>.<p>L Murugan is the president of BJP's Tamil Nadu unit, but ally AIADMK is the bigger party in the state and hence L Murugan may not hold a significant position in the race yet.</p>.<p>BJP has so far not made a significant foray into Tamil Nadu, however, the National Democratic Alliance with AIADMK, DMDK and other parties may help PM Modi's party push to make an entry into the southern state.</p>
<p>In an anti-climax that will cheer the AIADMK, its ousted general secretary V K Sasikala on Wednesday announced her decision to “step aside” from politics after it became clear that the current leadership of the party, once she controlled from the sidelines, was hesitant to take her back.</p>.<p>The dramatic announcement by Sasikala comes exactly a week after she appealed to the “true loyalists” of Jayalalithaa to “unite” to ensure that the AIADMK government is voted back to power in upcoming assembly elections.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/sasikala-steps-aside-from-politics-ahead-of-tamil-nadu-assembly-polls-says-she-never-aspired-for-any-post-957721.html">Sasikala 'steps aside' from politics ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, says she never aspired for any post</a></strong></p>.<p>Tamil Nadu is set to go to polls on April 6 in a single phase, with campaigning already in full swing among major political players in the state.</p>.<p>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Monday finalised a seat-sharing pact with two parties — Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and Manidhaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) — for the polls. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu’s ruling AIADMK sealed its alliance with Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) on Saturday by allotting 23 seats for the elections.</p>.<p>Sasikala's exit from the race may be a matter to cheer for several Opposition parties and the AIADMK after the leader said that she never aspired for any political position. Here are some of the key players in the race to Fort St George.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/tamil-nadu-assembly-elections-2021">All you need to know about Tamil Nadu Assembly elections</a></strong></p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/edappadi-k-palaniswami"><strong>Edappadi K. Palaniswami</strong></a></p>.<p>Palamiswami is the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and took over as the CM after the death of enigmatic AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa. He is the joint coordinator of the party with O Panneerselvam. Palaniswami entered politics as a volunteer for AIADMK in 1974 and later became an important member of the party in Salem. He won the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections four times, in 1989, 1991, 2011 and 2016. In 1998, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Edappadi constituency.</p>.<p>Palaniswami became the Chief Minister after O Panneerselvam resigned in 2017 shortly after J Jayalalithaa passed away.</p>.<p>He is now the AIADMK's CM face for the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/o-panneerselvam"><strong>O Panneerselvam</strong></a></p>.<p>O Panneerselvam is the Deputy Chief Minister and joint coordinator of AIADMK. He was close to Jayalalithaa and often functioned as the CM when Jayalalithaa was unable to head the government. His first term as CM was started on September 2001 and lasted six months after the Supreme Court barred Jayalalithaa from holding office.</p>.<p>He was again entrusted with the responsibility of being Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 29 September 2014 when Jayalalitha was convicted in the disproportionate assets case. In 2016, he was elected as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after Jayalalithaa passed away. However, he resigned in 2017 and was later expelled by V K Sasikala. After his expulsion, the Governor invited Palaniswami to form the government.</p>.<p>He was speculated earlier to be the CM face for AIADMK, but sitting CM Palaniswami was chosen to be the CM if the party gained majority seats.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/there-is-no-place-for-sasikala-dhinakaran-in-party-aiadmk-957604.html?_ga=2.147234359.1696788093.1614734559-596657051.1579855118">There is no place for Sasikala, Dhinakaran in party: AIADMK</a></strong></p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/m-k-stalin-parties-for-tamil-nadu-assembly-polls-956914.html"><strong>M K Stalin</strong></a></p>.<p>DMK president M K Stalin is the son of former chief minister late M Karunanidhi. Stalin started his political career early with DMK and won for the first time from Thousand Light constituency in Chennai in 1989. After which, he transitioned to become the Mayor of Chennai and later on Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu under his father M Karunanidhi.</p>.<p>He became the president of DMK after the demise of Karunanidhi.</p>.<p>Stalin is currently the Leader of the Opposition and is set to become the CM for the first time if the DMK-Congress alliance is able to secure majority seats.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/kamal-haasan"><strong>Kamal Haasan</strong></a></p>.<p>Popular Tamil actor Kamal Haasan formed Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) in 2018. MNM contested in the 2019 general election from 37 seats and lost all with a vote share of 3.72%. The party has allied with actor Sarathkumar's All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi and Paarivendhar's Indihya Jananayaga Katchi.</p>.<p><strong>L Murugan</strong></p>.<p>L Murugan is the president of BJP's Tamil Nadu unit, but ally AIADMK is the bigger party in the state and hence L Murugan may not hold a significant position in the race yet.</p>.<p>BJP has so far not made a significant foray into Tamil Nadu, however, the National Democratic Alliance with AIADMK, DMDK and other parties may help PM Modi's party push to make an entry into the southern state.</p>
