Sasikala asked the Governor to invite her to form government.
CHENNAI : As AIADMK chief VK Sasikala despatched a letter to Tamil Nadu Governor reminding him that it has been “seven long days” since her party’s legislators chose her to be the next chief minister, K Pandiarajan, the state’s education minister and one of Ms Sasikala’s most staunch supporters walked over to the rival camp of O Panneerselvam on Saturday morning.
Mr Pandiarajan is Mr Panneerselvam’s top catch so far and the defection gives credence to his claim that legislators who have sworn loyalty to Ms Sasikala have secretly been in touch with him. Ms Sasikala has requested the Governor to immediately meet her and the lawmakers who support her and invite them to form government.
“It has been seven long days since” O Panneerselvam submitted his resignation, Ms Sasikala has written to Governor C Vidyasagar Rao,” adding, “I believe Your Excellency will act immediately to save the sovereignty of the Constitution, democracy and the interest of the State.”
Addressing party workers and leaders at her Poes Garden residence today, Ms Sasikala, 61, said, “We can be patient only to an extent. Beyond that, we will do what we need to do.” Drawing parallels to former Chief Minister and AIADMK chief J Jayalalthaa’s struggle before she took over the party, the 61-year-old, who was Ms Jayalalithaa’s closest companion for years, said, “We will fight in the same manner and win… I am ready for anything as long as all of you are with me.”
“Will surely listen to the collective voice of my voters & decide in a way to uphold the dignity of Amma’s memory & unity of AIADMK !,” Mr Pandiarajan had tweeted this morning, before announcing that he was jumping camp to “save the party.”
Ms Sasikala has staked claim to form government with the support of 129 of the AIADMK’s 134 legislators. On Mr Panneerselvam’s side, so far, are now five legislators and the one minister who joined him today. Also in Team Panneerselvam are three parliamentarians including two extended their support today. AIADMK’s number 2 E Madhusudhanan, who has also pledged his support to Mr Panneerselvam, was expelled by Ms Sasikala yesterday.
Mr Pandiarajan is the first minister to join Mr Panneerselvam, who had resigned as chief minister at a party meeting last Sunday to facilitate Ms Sasikala’s takeover. Two days later, he rebelled, and has alleged that he was forced to resign.
Mr Panneerselvam has also alleged that party MLAs were forced to sign blank sheets which have been misused by Ms Sasikala to show that she has majority support. He has complained to the Governor that Ms Sasikala has held the AIADMK’s legislators “captive” after they were driven to various hotels and resorts to keep them from being poached.
Mr Panneerselvam, who met the Governor on the same day that Ms Sasikala staked claim, has reportedly sought five days from the Governor to gather support of party lawmakers and stake claim to be chief minister again. He is holding interim charge after his resignation was accepted.
Two days after he met both leaders, Governor Rao is yet to indicate what his next step will be. His office denied reports last night that he has sent his assessment of the political crisis to the Centre.
Sources said the Governor is inclined to wait till the Supreme Court gives verdict in a corruption case against Ms Sasikala, before inviting her to form government as the leader with the majority support. The verdict is expected next week. If found guilty, Ms Sasikala will not be able to hold public office or contest elections.
The Tamil Nadu assembly has 235 members and to be chief minister, a leader has to prove the support of 118 lawmakers. There has been speculation that main opposition DMK-Congress could back Mr Panneerselvam to keep away Ms Sasikala. The DMK’s MK Stalin met Governor Rao on Thursday to seek an early solution to the political crisis.with ndtv input.
