Last night Tamil Nadu witnessed a late night rebellion in the ruling party by O Panneerselvam (OPS), who was Jayalalithaa’s most loyal aide and is the only party leader she would repeatedly trust as place-holder.
Dressed in a white shirt and dhoti and sporting his trademark holy ash and kumkum, Panneerselvam after sitting in Padma asana for at least 40 minutes, made revelations which split the ruling AIADMK with one set of supporters backing the interim CM.
In a quick retaliation, AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala sacked Panneerselvam from the post of party treasurer. In her very first impromptu contact with journalists, she asserted that all the party MLAs were with her and hence there is “no problem” in her becoming the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
Panneerselvam who has filled the void of the Chief Ministerial post twice, has always been temporary. After becoming a hero overnight with just one Press Meet, in his second interaction with media again he said that taking over as the CM was the wish from Amma and he always followed Amma’s path.
Responding to being sacked as the Party Treasury, Panneerselvam said that “I was appointed by Amma and nobody can remove me from that post. There has been no instance where I have betrayed the party, while remaining in power or opposition”
Sasikala even said that he will be removed from the primary membership of the party soon. The interim CM who would withdraw his resignation, on the request of the party cadre affirmed that Sasikala is the interim General secretary of AIADMK.
Talking about his immediate course of action, he said that, “I will prove my strength in the assembly. I will meet Tamil Nadu people, in each and every city to make my point”
Panneerselvam who claimed that Jayalalithaa’s spirit spoke to him and asked him to reveal the truth to people, said a judicial inquiry will be instituted into Jayalalithaa’s death.
Deepa Jayakumar, the niece of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, has slammed the ruling AIADMK’s move to elevate Sasikala to the post of the CM. OPS stated that if offered he will accept Deepa’s support. Both Deepa and OPS alleged that they were not allowed to visit Jayalalithaa at Chennai’s Apollo hospital.
Responding to this allegation that DMK is supporting Panneerselvam , M.K. Stalin said, “Jayalalithaa has smiled at me in the Assembly. Can Ms. Sasikala question Jayalalithaa on this. It is shameful to say that smiling is an objectionable thing. Now what will she say about the mess people are laughing on now?”
The DMK working president held that the TN government administration has collapsed in last eight months and requested the governor to safeguard TN interests.
The interim CM who is waiting for the temporary governor to arrive in Chennai said, “It is a false accusation that BJP is directing me”. He further added that Union government is supporting Tamil people.
AIADMK earlier accused BJP for Deepa’s political entry and now for not appointing a permanent governor to Tamil Nadu. Though the Governor has already accepted his resignation, if the Chief Minister claims that he resigned under pressure, the Governor may determine if OPS enjoys a majority in the house. Any Chief Minister requires 117 MLAs to command a majority and almost 123 MLA’s are now seen attending AIADMK meet at party headquarters in Chennai.
As of now, the Governor can swear Sasikala in based on the AIADMK legislature party electing her. However, in the light of the conflicts, C VidyaSagar Rao did not speak about the situation.
Defending the governor, BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said that the allegations people are making against Rao are completely unjust as he is taking into to account all the details before taking a call. Confirming that the center has no role to play in the TN politics, he also said the governor is studying the situation constitutionally, legally and he will appropriate decision soon.
