Tamil Nadu: Sasikala herds MLAs to undisclosed location, to meet Governor today

Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, who has been absent from the capital even as the state has gone into a political crisis, would arrive here tomorrow as AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala today mustered an overwhelming majority of party MLAs against a rebellious O Panneerselvam.

Panneerselvam has also claimed to have majority support in the ruling party. 

Maharashtra Governor Rao, who holds additional charge of Tamil Nadu, had kept away from Chennai for the last three days triggering speculation whether he had reservations on swearing-in Sasikala. 

Official sources confirmed that in Rao would be in Chennai on Thursday afternoon but there was no word on what he plans to do. 

Amid criticism from Sasikala's backers that Rao was seemingly avoiding coming to Chennai, Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said Rao was studying the situation in the state. 

Jurists were divided on whether Sasikala, against whose acquittal in a disproportionate assets case the Supreme Court is likely to deliver its verdict next week, can be sworn-in. 

After Panneerselvam's midnight rebellion, Sasikala called a meeting of party MLAs at the AIADMK headquarters in a show of strength this morning and later herded them in buses to undisclosed destination in a bid to keep the flock together. 

Official AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi said 31 out of its 134 MLAs attended the meeting chaired by Sasikala. She said that "true AIADMK supporters" will not desert the party as they are "Amma's loyalists". 

There were unconfirmed reports that AIADMK would even parade the MLAs before the President if the Governor delays the swearing-in of Sasikala. 

In an act of defiance, Panneerselvam said an inquiry commission under a sitting Supreme Court judge will be set up to probe the "doubts" surrounding the health condition and demise of Jayalalithaa. 

Panneerselvam, who on Tuesday night dramatically revolted against Sasikala and alleged he was forced to quit as Chief Minister on Sunday, said on Wednesday that he would prove his majority in the 234-seat assembly.

Addressing supporters at his residence, Panneerselvam said: "A government expected by you will be formed soon."

Addressing the legislators, Sasikala, who had sacked Panneerselvam from the post of treasurer last night, launched a no-holds-barred attack on him, saying he had betrayed the party and "fully merged" with DMK which Jayalalithaa had fought all her life. 

"Nobody will believe that I forced him to resign as Chief Minister. Not the people, nor the (AIADMK) cadres.

"This is a deceitful plan of the DMK," she said. "For two months, Panneerselvam has been collaborating with opposition forces but I ignored all that." 

She claimed she had got wind of his moves a few days ago itself and asserted that the party remains united and will not be cowed down by such threats. 

On his part, DMK Working President MK Stalin said his party had nothing to with "internal squabbles" in AIADMK and accused Sasikala of making false allegations after failing to become chief minister through a "short cut". 

Referring to his revolt of Tuesday night, Sasikala asked: "Why did he keep quiet all these days? Was he being backed by the DMK?

"I faced so many betrayals in the 33 years I have lived with Amma," she said, referring to the iconic Jayalalithaa. "I have overcome all those and we will overcome this one too. The AIADMK won't break, nor will I."

Panneerselvam, who was chosen by Jayalalithaa as stop-gap chief minister when she had to quit twice due to adverse court verdicts, today maintained that he enjoyed support of majority of MLAs and would prove it on the floor of the house at an appropriate time. 

"The Ministers and MLAs who area now with the other side will soon realise the reality and the current extraordinary situation will change," he said, an apparent reference to the ministers rallying behind Sasikala. 

Former Speaker P H Pandian, who attacked Sasikala yesterday, and senior Rajya Sabha member Dr V Maitreyan today showed up at the Chief Minister's residence in a show of solidarity. 

Panneerselvam also dismissed accusation by Sasikala that he was colluding with DMK and by others that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP were backing him. 

He said he was in touch with no one and that he did not need support of either DMK or BJP. 

The Chief Minister said the stand he has taken enjoyed wide public support as the people want a "good and deserving" person on the post. 

Panneerselvam said Sasikala, whom he called an interim General Secretary, had no right to sack him as the AIADMK Treasurer.

AIADMK's K. Manickam on Wednesday became the first party MLA to openly side with Panneerselvam.

"There is no need for a change in the Chief Minister's post," Manickam told IANS. He pointed that Jayalalithaa had chosen him as the acting Chief Minister twice in the past.

AIADMK leaders preferring anonymity told IANS that the mood among party cadres and the public was against Sasikala and that legislators and others may switch loyalties towards Panneerselvam over time.

Meanwhile, former AIADMK MP K.C. Palaniswamy said party activists would unleash a movement to retrieve the AIADMK headquarters, Jaya TV as well as the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa from the "occupiers".

"Panneerselvam will become the Chief Minister again," Palaniswamy told IANS.

Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai rejected Panneerselvam's claims and said that the party had all the 134 MLAs with it. 

"We are united. There is no dispute or difference," he said. 

He led the party MPs to Delhi tonight where he is expected to meet with the President tomorrow.