Chennai, Dec 10 (UNI) Amid growing speculation that she was the front runner to occupy the post of General Secretary of the AIADMK following the death of Ms J Jayalalithaa, senior leaders of the party today urged V N Sasikala to take over the post and guide it on the path laid by Ms Jayalalithaa. A group of senior leaders, including Party Presidium Chairman E Madhusudhanan and former Ministers K A Sengottaiyan, Ms Gokula Indira and Ms Valarmathi and former Chennai Mayor Saidai Duraisamy met Ms Sasikala at Ms Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence and made a fervent appeal to take over as General Secretary of the party and put to rest speculations in this regard. 'We have appealed to Ms Sasikala to take over as General Secretary of the AIADMK to put an end to speculations', Mr Sengottaiyan, who had clarified that he was never in the race for the key post, said. There were rumours in the media that Mr Sengottaiyan was in the running for the post, which was immediately denied by him as mere rumours. Ms Sasikala was with Ms Jayalalithaa through thick and thin for the last three decades and she was the only person qualifed to hold the post and guide the party in this hour of crisis, he added. Mr Sengottaiyan said 'Chinnama' (as Ms Sasikala is called) alone could lead the party on the right path and the path shown by Ms Jayalalithaa. Mr Sengottaiyan, said senior leaders were united on this issue. "All of them expressed the same thing. We made it clear that only she has the capacity to take over and run the party'. Former MLA Valarmathi said that has been with Jayalalithaa for almost 30 years. "Chinnamma must take over. She is already a member of the executive council and only she must take over'. School Education Minister Ma Foi Pandiarajan said the entire party was behind 'Chinnamma' and she was the right person to lead the party on the right direction. With the AIADMK General Council likely to be convened by the end of this month, the new General Secretary would be elected unanimously in the meet and Ms Sasikala name was expected to be proposed and seconded for the post. Ms Sasikala, who gave a patient hearing did not spell out her decision to the request made by the senior leaders. Mr Saidai Duraisamy said "Sasikala had helped Jaya to gain all her fame. She was Jaya's confidante. It is only the circumstances that creates a leader. She must become the focal point of the government and the party." UNI GV 1725