Madam Sasikala is the new Amma for the AIADMK. There is no doubt she is the lady who ordered MLAs to sign for Pannerselvam the new CM of Tamilnadu.
The ministers and legislators were summoned to a meeting in the basement of the Apollo Hospital, where Ms Jayalalithaa had been admitted nearly 70 days earlier.
They were each ordered, allegedly by Ms Natarajan, to sign three blank A-4 pages that had no information other than a list of their names. Each signed next to their name.
No information was provided on how the signatures would be used. They were also made to sign a register that would establish that a party conclave had been held.
At 2 pm, word arrived that the Chief Minister had died. Several legislators dissolved into tears. They were then told to meet at the party office at 6 pm. When they got there, the five most senior ministers, including Mr Panneerselvam, were missing.
Those who attended the party meeting believe that this is when Ms Natarajan negotiated the transfer of power with the five heavyweights in the AIADMK.
News channels mistakenly reported at about 5 pm that Ms Jayalalithaa had died. Though the hospital clarified that was not the case, the legislators were not allowed to leave the party office for the hospital.
Shortly after 11 pm, the five missing ministers arrived, grim-faced. The party chairman, Madhusudhanan, was handed a one-line statement to read out – it established that Mr Panneerselvam would be the next Chief Minister.
