At a time former Tamil Naidu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s companion Sasikala Natarajan is worried over intense Income Tax raids against her close associates, Leader of Opposition M K Stalin today created uproar over constitutional propriety of Vice Chancellors of the state meeting her.

The DMK Treasurer has written a letter to the Tamil Nadu Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao demanding the removal of Vice Chancellors of ten state universities after they met Sasikala at Jayalalithaa’s residence in Poes Garden.

He accused that their meeting with Sasikala, who holds no official position, is “unethical, unwarranted and unconstitutional” and has breached the rules of appointment, conduct and regulations attached to their posts. He urged the Governor to take appropriate action to “effectively prevent the polarisation of the office of the Vice Chancellors and belittling the dignity of the autonomous status of the universities of the state”.

Vice Chancellors of as many as ten university met Sasikala two days ago along with Registrar of Anna University. A picture of the meeting was published in the AIADMK’s mouthpiece “Dr Namadhu MGR”, which also stated that they urged her to “take over the leadership mantle” from Jayalalithaa. Taking strong objection towards their action, Stalin lamented that they prove their loyalty is neither for the academic excellence of the state nor for the chancellors of the universities.

Apart from DMK leader, education activist and director of change India A Narayanan also condemned the “shocking and shameful act” of the Vice chancellors. “This amply demonstrates how VC posts have all been given away on the basis of political loyalty and of course money, he alleged.