Suspense still on over next Tamil Nadu CM

The suspense over the identity of the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu and infighting in the ruling AIADMK continued on Thursday.

Both O Panneerselvam, the caretaker Chief Minister, and VK Sasikala, AIADMK general secretary, who was elected the leader of legislature party last Sunday, met with Governor Vidyasagar Rao today to represent their case. Panneerselvam expressed optimism after meeting the Governor around 5.30 pm.

“We had a detailed discussion with Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao about all that is happening in Tamil Nadu...For sure, good things will happen, dharma will win,” he told reporters at his residence on returning from the Raj Bhavan.

Sasikala met the Governor around 7.30 pm and presented papers relating to her election as AIADMK legislature party leader by the MLAs. C Ponnaiyan, senior leader from her camp, said nothing conclusive can be immediately said on the swearing-in ceremony.

However, with the Governor formally apprised of the issue, there could be clarity on the political crisis that has plagued Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, both contenders continued to trade charges. Support also continued to grow for Panneerselvam, with E Madhusudanan, AIADMK Presidium Chairman, coming out in his support. Madhusudanan said the AIADMK had to be saved from the clutches of a dictatorial leader.

He had initially supported Sasikala because she controlled party funds, he added.

From the opposing camp, K Pandiarajan, School Education Minister, said at no time was Panneerselvam coerced.

He had all along supported the party’s decision to elect Sasikala as the legislature party leader and it is “laughable” that he backtracked 48 hours later, Pandiarajan observed.

Sasikala reportedly has signed consent letters from 130 legislators, which she will present to the Governor. If needed, she will produce all of them in person.

Panneerselvam had submitted his resignation on Sunday after Sasikala was elected the leader of the legislature party in a bid to become the chief minister. The Governor accepted his resignation and allowed him and his Cabinet to continue in office till a successor takes over. However, with no word on Sasikala’s swearing-in ceremony, suspense loomed over the reasons for the delay. Rao, who is in additional charge of Tamil Nadu, is the Governor of Maharashtra and could not come to Chennai as he was busy with his duties elsewhere. Also, the perception is that the impending Supreme Court verdict on the corruption charges that Sasikala faces could be an issue.

But Panneerselvam, in a surprise move late on Tuesday night, told media persons at an impromptu press conference that he had been “pressured” into submitting his resignation by Sasikala and her relatives.

This brought to open the cracks within the ruling party following the demise of J Jayalalithaa, former Chief Minister and the party’s general secretary of over three decades.

Panneerselvam, the AIADMK treasurer, who had served as chief minister on two earlier occasions, was sworn in chief minister on December 5 within hours of Jayalalithaa’s death being announced.

On December 29, Sasikala, a close associate of Jayalalithaa for over 30 years but who has never openly been in politics or held an elected post, took over as general secretary.

It was no surprise, as rumours were prevalent on her coming to centre stage. She was perceived as a ambitious person and a behind-the-scenes operator.

The roots of the current political crisis can be traced to Jayalalithaa dying without naming a political heir or establishing a strong second rung leadership in the party.