VK Sasikala announces retirement from active politics with immediate effect

Former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa's confidante and expelled party chief VK Sasikala has announced she is retiring from active politics. Releasing a statement, Sasikala on Wednesday said she will "stay away" from politics and has never aimed for power or position and will always work for the welfare of the people. "I have never aimed for power or a position," she wrote in her letter.

In her statement, Sasikala also urged AIADMK workers to work together for the common goal of defeating the 'evil' DMK. "Amma’s cadres should work to defeat the evil DMK and ensure that Amma’s golden rule comes back in Tamil Nadu," Sasikala said in her retirement note. Sasikala's statement comes nearly a month before Tamil Nadu will head for elections on April 6. She returned recently after serving a four-year prison sentence in Bengaluru following conviction in a disproportionate assets case.She is the president of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam. The AMMK is a breakaway faction of the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhaga (AIADMK). The party was founded by TTV Dhinakaran after the death of former CM J Jayalalithaa.