Though the top two leaders of the ADMK party had attained a truce after they reached a consensus with Panneerselvam announcing Edappadi Palaniswami as the Chief Ministerial candidate and with Palaniswami meeting the demand of Panneerselvam by consenting to form the steering committee in the party, the truce would less likely have a long-term life and it may see its end much ahead of the state assembly polls. 

Tamil Nadu is just months ahead of elections and the ruling ADMK party has curtailed the drama between the two factions with the hope of retaining its power in the state. The upcoming election would be the first legislative election Edappadi Palansiwami as the Chief Minister, however, the party would meet the important event before meeting the elections - the release of jailed leaders VK Sasikala, who was the closest aide of late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. 

Sasikala was convicted in the Disproportionate Assets Case in which Jayalalithaa was the first accused. She was awarded a four-year prison sentence and she has been lodged in Central prison in Bangalore along with two of her relatives, who are the co-accused in the case, since 2017. Though she was behind the bars, she has been one of the names in the political spotlight by stirring controversies and speculations on her release. 

As per the court order, she must be released during February 2021, after the completion of the prison sentence. However, there were multiple reports and claims surfaced around here that she would have a premature release and her counsel had earlier claimed that she would be out of prison by September and October, which sparked the debates and speculations among the ADMK leaders and members as her release would likely birth the rebellion inside the party against the Chief Minister. 

Earlier, the RTI reply to the question raised by the Bangalore activist said that Sasikala would likely be released by January 27, 2021, which found space for another round of expectations. Amid such speculations, Sasikala's counsel has now said that she would be released from the prison any time now. Speaking to an English news agency, Sasikala's counsel Raja Sethoor Pandian has claimed that the jailed leader can walk out any time before the jail term officially ends on January 27, 2021, if her remission of 129 days is taken into account. 

Remission is the reduction of the term of a prison sentence, usually due to good behavior or conduct. The counsel said that Sasikala is entitled to an ordinary remission of 129 days for good behavior and also for not seeking frequent paroles. Raja Sethoor Pandian had said that the process is getting delayed in the Karnataka Prisons Department. In the court's order, Sasikala must pay the fine amount of Rs 10 crores and she has to pay the fine before her release. The order states that if she fails to pay the fine, she must serve in prison for one more year. 

Responding to the fine amount, Pandian said that her client is ready to pay the fine amount through the Demand draft and he explained that it's not necessary that the amount should be deposited from her account. A person who is close to her can pay the fine by disclosing the source of the money. The assertions had raised the speculations on her release. Though the early or the release after the fullest term, it's confirmed that Sasikala would be getting released at least four months before the Tamil Nadu assembly polls.

Though both the leaders of the ADMK referred Sasikala's name on their respective elevation during the party's executive committee meeting, the reports say that one of the factors that brought the truce between them was the release of the jailed leader. They had reached a consensus and named the CM candidate to restrict Sasikala and her faction's attempt to dominate and take over the party after her release. Some of the senior ministers hinted that the party won't allow their influence within the party or the rule. 

Even as both the leaders had joined hands ahead of the election, the party has been dubious on the situation after Sasikala's release as her supporters would apparently back her through which she would building a political momentum again given that her nephew TTV Dhinakaran has already running AMMK party in which Sasikala has been named as the General Secretary. 

It was expected that she would start leading the AMMK party and if she pulls the leaders and members out of the ADMK, EPS and OPS would be losing their dominance and eventually would end up backing Sasikala or the duo could try to build a strong alliance before her release ensuring that her influence won't damage the ADMK and its current leaders. Whatever may happen, but the reports say that her release could create a political storm in the ADMK ahead of the elections. The assertion from her counsel has come when Sasikala has been facing trouble from the Income Tax department, which had attached several of her properties under the Prohibition of Benami Transactions Act. 

Must-read: VK Sasikala faces a new trouble, months ahead of getting released from prison!