Equations arechanging very fast in Tamilnadu. MLAs are slowly drifting towards Pannerselvam. The Governor will be giving an opportunity for Selvam to meet him first as he is the caretaker chief minister.
Madhusudhanan is the AIADMK’s number 2 as its Presidium Chairman. He arrived a short while ago at Mr Panneerselvam’s residence and the two leaders have together attacked Ms Sasikala, alleging that she “threatened” Mr Madhusudhanan.
Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, who has been criticised for staying away from Chennai, lands in the city soon and what happens next in the political crisis depends entirely on him. He will meet Mr Panneerselvam at 5 pm and Ms Sasikala at 7, when she is expected to take with her busloads of MLAs to show that she has their support.
Though O Pannerselvam says he will push for the chance to take a trust vote in the legislature, he cannot withdraw the resignation he sent on Sunday. At the time, he was asked by the Governor to serve as an interim Chief Minister and has spent the last few hours proving that he is the head of the state, meeting with top bureaucrats and police officials.
Public opinion appears tilted in his favour because he is seen as an efficient administrator who was hand-picked by Ms Jayalalithaa twice to fill in for her as chief Minister when corruption cases forced her to step down. While she was hospitalised, he was entrusted with running key departments that reported directly to her. In contrast, Ms Sasikala is being vetoed on social media and in Chennai for lacking any credential other than her proximity to Ms Jayalalithaa. She has never won an election either within or outside her party.
The Governor’s absence allowed Ms Sasikala’s opponents the opportunity to transform what promised to be a hitchless ascension backed by her entire party, into a political crisis. Her supporters say that the Governor has therefore played a not-so-covert role in undermining her legitimate right to take over as Chief Minister.
Mr Panneerselvam says the isolation of the AIADMK’s legislators by Ms Sasikala amounts to them being held hostage. “If she is so sure of their support”, he said last night, why is she not allowing them to talk to me?”
The Supreme Court has said that it will rule next week on whether Ms Sasikala and Ms Jayalalithaa are guilty of corruption in a case dating to the early 90s. The Governor has reportedly sought legal advice on whether Ms Sasikala should be asked to wait to take office till the verdict is delivered.
The AIADMK met and decided that VK Sasikala will be the new Chief Minister. Mr Panneerselvam sent his resignation to the Governor. 48 hours later, he dramatically announced that he was coerced to quit.
His revelation was made at the beach-side memorial of J Jayalalithaa, his mentor, who died in December while she was Chief Minister after nearly 70 days in hospital. Ms Jayalalithaa, a five-time head of state, had immaculate control over the party and deity-like status among lakhs of supporters who referred to her as “Amma” or mother.
Because Ms Sasikala was her constant companion, she is known as “Chinnamma” (mother’s younger sister). When Jayalalithaa died, it was Ms Sasikala who ensured that within hours, Mr Panneerselvam became Chief Minister. The top-speed action was intended to pre-empt a contest for leadership after Ms Jayalalithaa’s death.
