Chennai, Feb 12: After two prominent members from AIADMK interim General Secretary VK Sasikala’s camp supported O Panneerselvam on Saturday, former AIADMK MP and actor Ramarajan spoke in favour of Panneerselvam on Saturday. “O Panneerselvam is our leader now, he is following the path of MG Ramachandran,” the actor turned politician said. Meanwhile, Sasikala on Saturday met with her MLAs at the Golden Bay Resort and after meeting the party leaders, Sasikala launched a veiled attack on Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao. Without taking Governor’s name, VK Sasikala said that the delay in her swearing-in was designed to “create a split” in the ruling AIADMK party.
Twelve of the MLAs supporting VK Sasikala’s bid to become the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu interacted with the media on Friday and stated that they had come to the resort on their own. Speaking on the current situation of the state and questioning the caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Madhusudhanan, MLA Murugumaran questioned that, “It was this same Madhusudhanan who presided over the meeting in which ‘Chinnamma’ was elected on the 5th of this month. It was a unanimous decision. Why did OPS have a change of heart within 48 hours? Who is behind him?” He further said that “Our Ministers are where they want to be of their free will. We are paying for our stay with our own money. There are no restrictions on meeting us.”
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao has denied any assessment of the current situation sent to Centre. However, NDTV reported that according to sources, Rao is currently waiting for the Supreme Court verdict in a corruption case against AIADMK before inviting Sasikala to form a government. Governor Rao has gone through multiple court judgements and is studying provisions of the Constitution closely to help him make his decision after Ms Sasikala staked claim to form a government on Thursday with the support, she said, of 129 of her party’s 134 legislators, NDTV reported. (Read Also Delay in swearing-in designed to split AIADMK, says VK Sasikala: 10 updates)
Addressing the media on Friday, the caretaker Chief Minister said that AIADMK could never run on any individuals direction. “The party was developed as a huge banyan tree. Nobody can hijack it. Even if an attempt is made to do so, we will not let it happen,” he said. “Amma (Jayalalithaa) built the party after MGR with her hard work and dedication. Amma used to say “this movement will continue for hundreds, thousands of years. No one can make this party a family property. Those who want to capture the party and power, it will only be their daydream. Definitely, good things will happen,” the acting CM added.
Panneerselvam on Tuesday made an unscheduled visit to Marina Beach in Chennai and meditated for around 40 minutes at the memorial of late AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa. Addressing the media, Panneerselvam said that he was compelled to resign as Chief Minister. “I was forced to step down… Amma’s spirit told me that I should come out and tell the truth to the people. Jayalalithaa told me to take over as CM when she was in the hospital,” he said.
Apart from Panneerselvam’s rebellion, Sasikala also faces a legal hurdle. Supreme Court has announced that the verdict of disproportionate assets case would be released next week. Sasikala is the co-accused in the case, along with late Jayalalithaa. If Chinamma gets convicted, she would be debarred to hold the constitutional office.
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