The party had played a major role in helping the BJP form a government at the Centre in 1998 with A B Vajpayee as the Prime Minister, she said, adding that the party had proved itself as a national player then. “The time has come for strengthening the outfit so as to become the deciding force in choosing the next Prime Minister of India. We will a part of the next government to take charge at the Centre,” she told the general council of the party that met on Friday.

Being a formidable force at the Centre was possible for the party, after which the rights of Tamil Nadu could be secured without harming the sovereignty of the country, she added, urging the cadres to work towards fulfilling this.

Virtually ruling out any immediate rapprochement with her former close confidante V K Sasikala Natarajan and her family members who were expelled from the party recently, she issued a stern warning to party leaders and cadres against maintaining any contacts with them.

Jayalalithaa said she would not pardon those who were acting as per the wishes of those who were booted out of the party for their acts of betrayal, a clear reference to the recent expulsion of Sasikala and her kin including her husband, brothers, nephews and nieces.

“There are several types of functionaries. Some maintain silence after action is taken against them for their errant ways. Some join other parties, in which there is nothing wrong. But there are a few who, even after being sent out of the party, threaten the cadre saying they would be back in the party fold wielding similar influence like earlier,” she said. “They intimidate party workers with the threat of revenge once they are back in the party. But such persons will never be pardoned; nor will those who act according to their whims.”