Was targeted and humiliated by close ones: Panneerselvam sharpens attack

File pic - Panneerselvam sitting in a meditation in front of Jaya's burial site

In yet another allegation that further deepens the political crisis in the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvan toady alleged that he was humiliated by those close to him once he took over the reins of the state after Jayalalithaa’s demise in December last year.

“To be a Tamil Nadu Chief Minister is a huge task but at each and every step, humiliation was carried out by the insiders who were close to me,” he said, adding that he continued at the post ‘only after the central government asked him to do so after resigning’.

“After assuming CM position, experiences which I had gone through had pained me a lot; being a CM, I was targeted and humiliated,” OPS further said.

Panneerselvam even said that he will withdraw his resignation, if required, and said his strength will come to be known in the state Assembly.

“I will continue to discharge my duties in accordance with the wishes of people of Tamil Nadu,” he said.

"If required, I will withdraw my resignation," Panneerselvam, who was flanked by Pandian, party's Rajya Sabha MP Maithreyan and others including VC Aarukutty, added.

The remark from Panneerselvam comes a day after he revolted against Sasikala alleging ‘she was made General Secretary of the party under extraordinary circumstances following Jayalalithaa's death’. Soon after this, Sasikala sacked him as AIADMK Treasurer.

Jayalalithaa's death will be probed, says Panneerselvam

In the midst of his late night revolt against Chief Minister-designate VK Sasikala, Tamil Nadu's caretaker CM O Panneerselvam today said that he will order an inquiry into the queries being raised over Jayalalithaa's death.

"Health queries regarding Amma have been raised. It is the duty of the state government to enquire. Have recommended an inquiry commission," Panneerselvam said today.

The CM said he was not allowed to meet later AIADMK supremo even once in hospital during her last days.The leader claimed that he had visited the Apollo hospital daily to enquire about the health of ‘Amma’ but he had not seen the leader even once.

"Had visited hospital daily to enquire about Jayalalithaa's health condition, but couldn't meet her even once. Every day my family would ask, did you see Amma at Apollo. I even considered saying yes, but I couldn't lie," Panneerselvam said.

Panneerselvam said that he told his family each day that he couldn't see Jayalalithaa because of ‘fear of infection’.

When asked ‘who was behind the political drama in the state’, Panneerselvam replied: “There is a force behind everything that is happening.”

Panneerselvam, long-time loyalist of Jayalalithaa, further said that he had ‘doubts’ about Jayalalithaa's treatment which needed to be answered.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo hospital here for breathlessness in September and was attended by a ‘very select group of people’, including her close confidante VK Sasikala. The 68-year-old leader passed away on December 5.

The latest development comes a day after Panneerselvam declared that he had been forced to resign by Sasikala. However, Sasikala said that the DMK was behind former Panneerselvam's revolt against her and that all party legislators were united as a single family. Later she removed him from the post of treasurer and appointed Dindigul C Srinivasan as the new treasurer.

Stepping up on his attack against Sasikala, Panneerselvam said that there had been no instance where he had betrayed the party and that there was nothing that he was doing at the behest of the Baharatiya Janata Party.

"Amma remained CM for nearly 16 yrs, I happened to become CM twice. All this was the wish of Amma. Always followed Amma's path," Panneerselvam said, reiterating that he would withdraw his resignation as CM if the party cadre ask him to.

He further claimed that he enjoyed the majority of the legislators in the party and could prove it on the floor of the house. "I will meet the Governor once he is back here. I will prove my strength in the Assembly," he said.

BJP support to OPS' revolt?

Media reports have said that Panneerselvam's revolt did in fact have the tacit support of the BJP. OPS, reported The Indian Express, was "given enough indications by leaders of the BJP to stand up and be counted after the death of J Jayalalithaa," citing top BJP sources.

The report further adds that Sasikala’s husband M Natarajan camped in New Delhi last month and met many Congress leaders and senior lawyers including Kapil Sibal, setting off hectic discussions within the BJP over its stand vis a vis the Chennai power struggle.

The BJP’s stand has been that Sasikala should take charge only after the Supreme Court delivers its verdict in the case against late Jayalalithaa and Sasikala, it added.

Meanwhile, Panneerselvam today signaled that he did have the support of the party. " The Union government is supporting Tamil people. Whoever extends support to Tamil people, we will accept it," he said today, adding that he was even willing to accept support from Deepa, Jaya's niece who announced her foray into active politics.

DMK not behind my revolt, says OPS

This morning, Pannerselvam dismissed Sasikala's charge that DMK was behind his revolt against the party leadership and said she has no powers to sack him as Treasurer.

"She should be asked to explain the basis of her charge. I was never cordial with DMK. A look back into the history will make it clear," he said.

As the political drama unfolded, security at the Greenways Road residence of Panneerselvam was stepped up even as scores of supporters started thronging the area.

AIADMK MLAs, meanwhile, are meeting at the party headquarters to discuss the situation arising out of Panneerselvam's outburst.

"There is no relationship at all between me and the DMK. Its only the human approach to reciprocate when someone smiles at you. That is the difference between animals and humans," he said.

He was apparently referring to Sasikala last night pointing to the exchange of pleasantries between him and DMK Working President M K Stalin, the Leader of the opposition in the Assembly, during the recent session.

He also stuck to his charge that he was forced to resign from the post of Chief Minister, but declined to answer a question whether he would stake claim with the Governor to continue, saying, "Just wait and watch."

"I don't want to go into it. I had already explained in detail at Amma's (Jayalalithaa) memorial the circumstances under which I was forced to resign," he added.

Elaborating on his contention that Sasikala had no powers to sack him from the party post, Panneerselvam said already there were legal problems facing the party. He said General Secretary was elected on a temporary basis in view of the extraordinary situation faced by the party (after Jayalalithaa's demise).

"This is the party's norm. As per the party's constitution framed by founder MG Ramachandran at the time floating the AIADMK, legal sanction for the post will come only when all primary members elect the General Secretary. Such a General Secretary alone has the powers to appoint or remove party functionaries," he said.

On strong attack against him by AIADMK leaders, including his cabinet colleagues, Panneerselvam said it was a 'compulsion of time.'

"They can only speak like that when they are there (with Sasikala). They are in a state of mind of retaining their office for the next four years. They should act keeping in mind that they have to go back to the people," he said.

Never betrayed AIADMK, says OPS

On the charge that he had betrayed the party high command, the senior leader said he resigned when he was forced only because he did not want the charge to fall on him.

Asked about allegations levelled against him by some of his opponents that BJP was behind him, Pannerselvam said, "They (his opponent) don't have any strong ground against me. They can't level any allegation against me."