Save the sovereignty of constitution: Sasikala urges Tamil Nadu Governor

MPs P R Sundaram of Namakkal constituency and Ashok Kumar of Krishnagiri constituency have joined hands with the Chief Minister.

A very senior office-bearer in the party hierarchy, Madusudanan, along with other top functionaries like KA Sengottaiyan, had urged Sasikala to to take over the reins of the party, soon after the Jayalalithaa’s demise in December a year ago.

A former minister M M Rajendra Prasad also joined the Chief Ministers camp. Blaming the rival DMK party for Panneerselvam’s remarks, she said AIADMK stood united, like a family.

The incident showed that senior officials don’t report to the caretaker chief minister but to Sasikala even though she is only the CM-in-waiting.

Asserting that only cadres can elect a general secretary as per party rules, Madusudanan said he had asked the EC not to recognise Sasikala as party chief.

“We are steadfast on making Chinnamma the chief minister+ of the state”, said Rajenthra Bhalaji, dairy development minister. An online campaign “Call Your MLA” contains a list of names and phone numbers of lawmakers and urges people to choose their chief minister in a democratic manner. Since you are all with me, the mischiefs of a few persons, won’t do any harm to the party. In the 235-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, AIADMK has 135 MLAs.

After being in political wilderness beginning 2006, he was again brought back to party mainstream by Jayalalaihtaa in 2008 when she had named him as party’s political adviser.

Correspondents say it is unclear whether Mr Panneerselvam will be able to garner the requisite support, although many people in the state have opposed Ms Natarajan’s elevation.

O Panneerselvam launches a signature campaign to convert the Poes Garden residence of the late J Jayalalithaa into a memorial.

He had earlier made an announcement in this regard.

Sasikala reportedly objected, saying she had the written support of all of the AIADMKs 134 legislators, though five of them have crossed over to Panneerselvam, which makes their actual strength 129, which still was a clear majority.