Sasikala’s first test today; second test in a week

NEW DELHI: The political drama in Tamil Nadu took a decisive turn on Monday after the Supreme Court set Tuesday as the date for verdict in a corruption case against AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala and the attorney general advised the Tamil Nadu governor to order a composite floor test in the state assembly in a week.

The Supreme Court list showed that Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitava Roy will read out separate judgements in the case, introducing the possibility of a split verdict. In such a scenario, the case will be referred to a threejudge bench for a fresh hearing.

If the judges concur on Sasikala’s conviction, she will be disqualified from contesting polls and thus will not be in a position to become CM.

Shortly before the SC listed the verdict for Tuesday, attorney general Mukul Rohatgi advised Tamil Nadu governor Vidyasagar Rao to convene the state assembly within a week for holding a floor test to decide whether chief minister Panneerselvam or the Sasikala faction of AIADMK enjoyed majority in the House.

Rohatgi is believed to have advised that the governor should call a special session within a week to have a “composite floor test as ordered by the Supreme Court in the Jagdambika Pal case.” Jagdambika Pal was sworn in CM of UP in 1998 by governor Romesh Bhandari after dismissing the Kalyan Singh government but after the move was questioned in the Supreme Court, it ordered a test of majority be held in the House. Singh was reinstated as chief minister following the test.

In Chennai, Sasikala met over 100 AIADMK MLAs lodged at a resort in the city outskirts for the third time in as many days. She has been struggling to keep the flock of 129 MLAs together after six of them switched over to Panneerselvam camp. Eleven MPs are also backing Panneerselvam. Tamil Nadu has a 234-member assembly.