Uncertainty continues over Sasikala’s induction as TN CM
Panneerselvam visited the memorial on Marina beach and sat on the floor cross legged and meditated with closed eyes for more than 30 minutes.
Panneerselvam also said “I am a grassroot-level ordinary party worker”. I was told that the party and the government needed to be saved. Yet, when it comes to crucial matters, the leader alone takes all the decisions. I didn’t accept it.
“I have performed my duty without any shortcomings and carried forward on the path shown by Amma”, he said. “I told them they can appoint whoever they want”, he said.
“For two hours they tried to convince me”.
It took the police a long time to bring the screaming TV crews under some sort of control so that the chief minister could speak his mind out. “He immediately gave it”. I asked how far was this justified. Sasikalawas however was not impressed, but rather quite irritated by all the good work, he claimed. “I resigned because I was forced to”, he said. “Sellur Raju, Sengotaiyann, all spoke the same thing”, he said.
“I never knew about the MLAs’ meeting at all”. I didn’t have information.
“In public life, one has to tolerate insult”. They have obtained Panneerselvam’s resignation by coercion.
When asked whether the AIADMK is divided within where only some have raised their apprehensions against the move, Pandiyan said, “There is no division within the AIADMK”.
Mr. Panneerselvam’s statement today has the potential of dividing the AIADMK down the middle. “Sasikala is not the person people voted for”.
“No confusion or problem in our party, we are united like a family”, said Sasikala Natarajan as she waved to supporters outside Poes Garden.
“Violating party bylaws, one can not become general secretary”.
“Sasikala does not deserve to be either the party supremo or the CM”, Pandian had told reporters in Chennai. Pandian strongly opposes the elevation of Sasikala.
Also, sources say that the Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu won’t return to Chennai tomorrow, which means, OPS will remain as the interim Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. For a large section of Tamil Nadu’s population which was feeling frustrated with Sasikal, O Panneerselvam has emerged as a hero.
He added that someone who is chosen by the people should be the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. But acting Governor Vidyasagar Rao asked him to continue as caretaker chief minister till a new cabinet took over.
However, party officials were clueless as to Panneerselvam’s sudden meditation.
The MLAs had unanimously elected her as their leader.
He alleged that a meeting was held at Sasikala’s place where senior party leaders were present and question of her being CM came.
Sasikala derives her huge popularity in the party, essentially from her 33-year-old close association with the late Amma.
On December 29, the party’s general council unanimously elected Sasikala as the general secretary.
If Pannerselvam offers to face a floor test, he may be given time – perhaps a week to ten days – by which time the Supreme Court will pronounce its verdict in the disproportionate assets case in which Sasikala is a co-accused along with Jayalalithaa.