Jaya's niece extends support to Panneerselvam; OPS to face Palaniswami

CHENNAI: In another day of multiple political developments, the Sasikala faction of the AIADMK on Tuesday moved swiftly after an SC verdict disqualified its leader to become CM by electing highway and ports minister Edappadi K Palaniswami as the new legislature party leader.

The election of a Sasikala acolyte within hours of the SC verdict was meant to frustrate the rebel faction led by O Panneerselvam from weaning away MLAs. Palaniswami met governor Vidyasagar Rao in the evening to stake claim to form the next ministry.

Later, AIADMK leaders V Maitreyan and PH Pandian also met Rao on behalf of Panneerselvam. The governor’s decision was not known at the time of going to press.

The SC verdict did not apparently improve the chances of rebel CM Panneerselvam to remain in power, as there were no indications that he had secured support of enough MLAs to win the trust vote that was likely to be held in the state assembly in a week.

Earlier in the day, Sasikala sacked Panneerselvam from the party’s primary membership, in a series of tit-for-tat moves that the two factions have been indulging in the last few days.

Late on Tuesday night, Panneerselvam paid homage to the late CM Jayalalithaa at her Marina Beach memorial and Sasikala held a press conference to claim that “despite trouble MLAs still supported” her.

She exhorted AIADMK MLAs to stay united. Jaya’s niece Deepa Jayakumar, who was present along with OPS supporters at Jaya memorial, extended her support to OPS. She said: “This is a good verdict, a just verdict as those who have to go to jail have gone.”