Is Sasikala and Ramadoss alliance a symbolic representation of alliance between Sivaji Ganesan and Janaki Ammal in the 1989 election?

 The Ramadoss and Sasikala Alliance

The news of an electoral alliance between Ramadoss and Sasikala has been circulating frequently in recent days.

This situation reminds me of a specific event: the 1989 Assembly Elections, where MGR’s wife, Janaki Ammal, formed an alliance with Sivaji Ganesan’s Thamizhaga Munnetra Munnani party.

In this context, we should compare Sasikala to Sivaji Ganesan and Ramadoss to Janaki Ammal.

Janaki Ammal, prompted by R.M. Veerappan, entered the political arena to oppose Jayalalithaa. Similarly, following MGR’s death, Sivaji Ganesan entered politics believing his cinematic charisma would lead to victory.

In a similar vein, Ramadoss—much like Janaki Ammal—is entering the political fray in his old age, but against his own son. Meanwhile, Sasikala’s politics mirrors Sivaji Ganesan’s mindset; just as he relied on his film background, she believes her influence over the Mukkulathor community will carry her to success.

Sasikala aims to defeat Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) and her own relative T.T.V. Dhinakaran’s party. Ramadoss, on the other hand, seems intent on defeating his son’s party, the PMK.

This alliance between Ramadoss and Sasikala, formed primarily to defeat specific individuals, brings back memories of the 1989 Assembly Election results: both Sivaji Ganesan and Janaki Ammal lost their deposits, and their parties suffered a crushing defeat.

Running a party not with the intent to win, but solely to ensure the downfall of others, paves the way for decline rather than growth.

Both Sasikala and Ramadoss should reflect on the fate of the 1989 Sivaji Ganesan-Janaki Ammal alliance.