After Meeting OPS, Sasikala, TN Guv Briefs President and PMO
The ongoing tussle in Tamil Nadu’s ruling AIADMK party has manifested into a full-blown public feud.
- All members and arms of AIADMK support me, says Sasikala
- Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao met Panneerselvam and Sasikala within a gap of two hours
- The Governor has reportedly briefed the President, PMO and MHA
- Sasikala visited Jayalalithaa’s memorial prior to the meeting
- Top AIADMK MLAs switched sides to stand with Panneerselvam
- Panneerselvam, who was sacked as the party treasurer, has written to two banks, asserting his position
- Sasikala said she’s not afraid of a probe into Amma’s death
Meeting With Guv Was Positive, Says MLA Pandiarajan
Avadi MLA, K Pandiarajan, said the meeting with the Governor was a positive one, reports The News Minute. Pandiarajan is in the Sasikala camp.
'All Members and Arms of AIADMK Support Me'
The AIADMK official Twitter handle has released a statement:
Sasikala’s nephew, TTV Dinakaran, who is not an MLA, was also at the meeting.
TN Guv Briefs President, PMO and MHA
While there is still no clarity on who will form a government in Tamil Nadu, media reports say Governor Vidyasagar Rao has sent a brief to the President, PMO and HMO, after meeting both contenders.
According to India Today reporter, Shiv Aroor, the Governor has ruled out President's Rule in Tamil Nadu. His brief to the Centre reportedly says he needs to study claims made by both sides.
'Chinamma Stakes Claim to Form Government'
Even as Sasikala’s meeting with the governor was on, the official AIADMK handle tweeted saying she had staked claim to form a government in Tamil Nadu.
Her meeting with the governor lasted longer than OPS’. She is now back at her residence in Poes Garden.
Sasikala Seeks Amma's Blessings
Sasikala arrived at Jayalaithaa's memorial with a contingent of senior AIADMK leaders. She placed a wreath on her memorial as well as a list of the MLAs supporting her.
While Panneerselvam had spent nearly 40 minutes at the memorial, Sasikala spent less than 10 minutes. She will head to the Governor’s residence now.
Sasikala Leaves for Amma's Memorial
Sasikala left Poes Garden for Marina Beach, to visit Jayalalithaa’s memorial and seek her blessings.
Jaya TV is doing a live broadcast of her convoy’s journey to Marina Beach. This is perhaps a way to conjure an image similar to Jayalalithaa’s, as the channel used to broadcast her convoy’s progress in the same manner.
DA Case Verdict Not Likely on Friday
The SC’s verdict in the disproportionate assets case, which reportedly delayed Sasikala’s swearing-in even before Panneerselvam had revolted, will not be delivered on Friday, reports CNN-News18.
Sasikala Headed to Jaya Memorial
Prior to the meeting with the Governor, Sasikala will go to Jayalalithaa’s memorial to seek her blessings.
Sasikala’s case to the Governor would reportedly be that she has 130 MLAs in her corner and a decision must be taken as soon as possible to ensure that she becomes Chief Minister.
OPS Addresses Media
After a short meeting with the Governor, Panneerselvam addressed a press conference. The conference was brief. OPS said:
According to CNN-News18, Panneerselvam, during the brief meeting with C Vidaysagar Rao, told the Governor that he was forced to resign and that he now wanted to revoke his resignation.
OPS' Meeting With Governor Over
Panneerselvam’s meeting with the Governor is now over. The meeting was expected to last up to 30 minutes, but soon after the meeting began, OPS’ convoy was seen leaving Raj Bhavan.
The Governor will meet Sasikala at 7:30pm. Media reports say she will visit Jayalalithaa’s memorial at Marina Beach before heading to Raj Bhavan.
OPS Meets TN Governor
Tamil Nadu’s caretaker Chief Minister Panneerselvam’s meeting with the Governor has begun, reports CNN-News18. The meeting will reportedly last up to half an hour during which he will explain to the Governor why he resigned.
OPS on His Way to Raj Bhavan
Panneerselvam has left his residence to meet the Governor at Raj Bhavan. He is allowed to be accompanied by only 10 MLAs.
'Janaki vs Jayalalithaa' History Repeats Itself
As the public feud in AIADMK plays out, one can't help but wonder how history is repeating itself.
In 1987, following MGR's death, AIADMK split, with 95 MLAs siding with MGR's wife Janaki, and 35 choosing to stay with Jayalalithaa. Interestingly, neither Janaki nor Jayalalithaa were members of the Assembly, just as Sasikala is not an MLA now.
MGR's then right-hand man, Veerappan, put up the MLAs siding with Janaki in a five-star hotel. Jaya's supporter, S Thirunavukkarasar, took her loyalists on a 'Bharat darshan'. Their final destination was Nandi Hills near Bangalore.
Read the full story here.
Tamil Nadu Guv Arrives in Chennai
Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao has arrived in Chennai. He ducked questions from media persons about the ongoing tussle in the state and will be meeting OPS in an hour’s time.
He has asked that not more than 10 MLAs accompany both the camps when they arrive at Raj Bhavan to meet him.
MLAs Have Been Staying in Hotels of Their Own Accord: TN Edu Minister
Tamil Nadu Education Minister Pandiarajan said VK Sasikala has a letter of support from 135 MLAs, including Panneerselvam. He added that the MLAs have been staying at hotels of their own accord and have not been forced.
He asserted that no suggestion made by Panneerselvam had been overruled and everything was done with his consent.
'Call Your Lawmaker' Campaign Takes Off
As reports of lawmakers being “hidden” in hotels and resorts came to light, a peculiar social media campaign took off. Actor Arvind Swami tweeted a list of MLAs and local party representatives along with their numbers, and urged his followers to call them and express their opinion on the choice of CM.
Read the full story here.
Advantage OPS: TN Governor to First Meet Panneerselvam, then Sasikala
OPS has stolen a march on his rival Sasikala after news emerged that Governor C Vidyasagar Rao has agreed to meet O Panneerselvam 5 pm – two and a half hours before he is slated to meet VK Sasikala.
OPS, AIADMK MLAs Show Strength, Address Joint Press Conference
In a show of strength, O Panneerselvam on Thursday addressed a press conference with top AIADMK leaders such as Madhusudan, V Maitreyan and Pandian.
Flanked by important party MLAs, OPS said that he is fighting to protect MGR and Amma’s legacy. He also welcomed other MLAs to join his crusade against Sasikala’s attempts to usurp the party.
Brandishing an apology letter written by Sasikala to Jayalalithaa in 2011, Panneerselvam claimed that Sasikala is lying when she says she never betrayed Amma.
O Panneerselvam Meets TN's DGP, Chief Secy
Amid the brewing unrest in Tamil Nadu, the caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam met the state’s chief secretary and DGP, TK Rajendran at his residence early on Thursday.
Don't Blame DMK for AIADMK's Problems: Kanimozhi
Rajya Sabha MP and senior DMK leader Kanimozhi rejected allegations that her party has any hand in the ongoing tussle between Sasikala and Panneerselvam in the AIADMK. She said:
Panneerselvam Writing to Banks Won't Affect AIADMK
O Panneerselvam’s writing to the banks to not allow transactions without his authorisation may not have any practical impact on the AIADMK, a senior party leader said on Thursday. On conditions of anonymity, he said:
He added that there were other authorised persons to carry out banking transactions in the party. According to reports, Panneerselvam has written to banks asking them not to allow any transactions without his authorisation as the party treasurer.
TN Governor's Behaviour is Deplorable: Swamy
Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday slammed Governor C Vidyasagar Rao for ignoring his duty to the state. He slammed him for leaving the state at a crucial time. He even attacked the Congress for going easy on the governor.
Earlier, on Wednesday, Swamy requested President Pranab Mukherjee to intervene in the matter.
Panneerselvam Suggests Converting Amma's Poes Garden Residence into Memorial
In an indirect attack on his rival Sasikala, Panneerselvam is drawing up plans to convert Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence into a memorial for her, CNNNews18 reported.
The government’s order will force Sasikala and her family – the current occupant of the Poes Garden residence – to vacate the iconic house.
However, the Sasikala camp has suggested that they will staunchly oppose such an order. They claim that the Poes Garden residence is a private property and as such the government cannot convert it into a memorial without their consent.
Sasikala Herds MLAs to an Undisclosed Location
As the ongoing power tussle in Tamil Nadu turned into a full-blown public feud between Panneerselvam and Sasikala, there are reports of AIADMK MLAs being moved late on Wednesday by the Sasikala faction to an undisclosed locations to stop them from being poached by rival parties or by Panneerselvam.
According to a report published in The Indian Express, the MLAs were put into buses and driven to hotels and farmhouses to keep them from being poached before the floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
One group was traced by NDTV to the Golden Bay resort near Mahabalipuram, around 80 kms from Chennai, which offers, among its many attractions, a beach, massages and water-skiing.
Despite the efforts by the Sasikala camp, the report adds that one of lawmakers at the resort, SP Shanmuganathan managed to “escape” after he left for a bathroom break. He is suspected to have made his way to Mr Panneerselvam.
AIADMK MPs Arrive in Delhi
AIADMK MPs have arrived in the capital in light of the ongoing tussle in Tamil Nadu. They are expected to meet President Pranab Mukherjee and urge him to ask the Governor to return and swear Sasikala in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao is expected to arrive in Chennai on Thursday. At a press conference, he made a reference to the controversy surrounding his absence – and added that he was happy where he is.
Sasikala will meet Rao upon his return.
Panneerselvam Writes to Banks Asserting His Position
Panneerselvam has reportedly written to two banks, asserting that he is the treasurer of the AIADMK.
In his letter to the Karur Vysya Bank and the Bank of India, he asked the banks not to allow any transactions in party account without his consent.
AIADMK Leaders Leave for Delhi
The ongoing tussle in Tamil Nadu’s ruling AIADMK party has manifested into a full-blown public feud between caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and party General Secretary VK Sasikala.
Pro-Sasikala faction’s senior AIADMK leader M Thambidurai left for Delhi along with nine party leaders.
A day after Panneerselvam said he was forced to resign as the caretaker Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Sasikala told CNN-News18 that she was very disappointed with Panneerselvam for betraying the party and called him a traitor.
The General Secretary said that the Opposition DMK had a role to play in Panneerselvam’s open attack against the party members.
On being asked about the governor’s lack of response, Sasikala elaborated that a letter with the names of all MLAs who supported her was sent to governor C Vidyasagar Rao. His office told them the governor was in Ooty.
(With agency and media inputs)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)