12:06 Election Commission delivers jolt to Sasikala: JUST IN: EC says AIADMK rules don’t allow interim general-secretary, jolt for Sasikala.
According to the AIADMK constitution enacted by founder M G Ramachandran, the general secretary is all powerful. The general secretary is to be elected by all the primary members.
In the absence of a general secretary, the general council appointed by the previous incumbent will continue to be in place.
Based on this, the Election Commission has said that since Sasikala was not elected as general secretary by the primary members, and the party constitution does not provide for an interim general secretary, her election is not valid under the party’s rules.
In a first, the Supreme Court today issued contempt notice to a sitting high court judge, Justice CS Karnan for levelling allegations against former Judges of the Supreme Court and sitting judges of Madras High Court. The top court also ordered that no judicial and administrative work be given to him.
The Supreme Court asked the Registry to send across a copy of the order to Justice Karnan during the day who would have to return all judicial and administrative files in his possession to Calcutta High Court’s Registrar.
11:19 Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends Lok Sabha proceedings in the Parliament. For those who missed it, PM Modi tore into the Opposition, namely the Congress, on Tuesday.
11:01 I’ll prove my majority in the House: OPS dares Sasikala: After dropping a bombshell last night, saying he had been forced to resign from the post of Tamil Nadu chief minister to make way for Sasikala, O Panneerselvam addressed the media this morning.
Speaking to hordes of journalists, the CM said, “There has been no instance where Panneerselvam betrayed the party, while remaining in power or opposition. If party cadres ask me to withdraw my resignation, I will do that.”
Amma remained CM for nearly 16 years, I happened to become CM twice, all this was the wish of Amma.Always followed Amma’s path.
He also confirmed that an inquiry will be set up to probe the rumours that have been swirling over the circumstances of Jayalalithaa’s death.
Earlier on Monday, Apollo Hospital doctors along with the UK specialist Dr Richard Beale, who treated Jaya, cleared the air around her death, saying she died of a cardiac arrest after her organs started shutting down.
OPS also said that he would meet the governor once he returns to Chennai. He says he’s confident of proving his strength in the assembly.
When asked if the Central government is supporting him, OPS responds, “The Centre isn’t supporting me as a person, but supporting Tamil Nadu and its people.”
10:26 O Panneerselvam to withdraw his resignation?: It’s twist after twist in the battle for Tamil Nadu.
According to AIADMK sources close to Panneerselvam, he will be withdrawing his resignation from the governor. Currently, the governor C Vidyasagar Rao is in Mumbai.
Sources also added that Panneerselvam may demand for a probe panel to investigate Jayalalithaas Death
AIADMK has appointed Dindigul Srinivasan as the new party treasurer after Sasikala sacked Panneerselvam from his post following his revolt.
Srinivasan backing Sasikala told the press that the entire party is behind Chinnamma.
09:45 No legal problem in Sasikala taking over as CM: A-G:
Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi has denied reports that Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao had sought his opinion on whether there were any legal hurdles to AIADMK general secretary Sasikala Natarajan taking over as the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
Rohatgi, however, said there was no legal problem to her appointment as CM.
Sasikala was acquitted by Karnataka High Court on May 11, 2015 in the disproportionate assets case along with former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa, J Elavarasi and VN Sudhakaran.
The Karnataka government had appealed to the apex court against the acquittal in the corruption case. The Bench of Justices PC Ghose and Amitava Roy had reserved the judgment.
09:33 Reacting to Sasikala’s claims that the DMK was responsible for O Panneerselvam’s rebellion last night, TKS Elangovan responded, “How can DMK be behind this. How can they blame us for their infighting? How can we support O Panneerselvam when hes the Opposition? Were a major party and we want to come back to power and expose AIADMKs wrongdoings.
“The Modi government is playing a dirty game. They want to create problems for the political parties and they want to get some advantage as the BJP has no hold in Tamil Nadu and they think this an opportunity to be utilised,” state Congress president S Thirunavukkarasu told ANI.
Congress leader Karti Chidambaram has asked for fresh election to be conducted in the state.
“The only solution to the extraordinary political situation in Tamil Nadu is to dissolve the house and call for a general election as the people of Tamil Nadu must have a right immediately to elect a party and leadership of their choice,” he said.
Meanwhile, suspense mounted over the swearing-in of V K Sasikala as chief minister of Tamil Nadu with the governor deferring his plans to go to Chennai, as charges and counter-charges flew thick and fast between AIADMK and rebel leaders over the death of J Jayalalithaa.
In the wake of the uncertainty over Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao’s plans, the AIADMK asserted that it was the constitutional obligation of the governor to swear in Sasikala as chief minister and that there is no ground for stopping it.
Rao, who is governor of Maharashtra holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu, in Mumbai and has no plans to go to Chennai as of now, Raj Bhavan sources in Mumbai said, indicating that he could take a decision tomorrow.
09:16 Skywalk collapses in Mumbai suburb: A senior citizen was seriously injured after a portion of a skywalk in the Mumbai suburb of Dahisar collapsed, civic officials said today.
Sunil Kulkarni (65) received serious injuries in the collapse last night at Dahisar West. Bystanders immediately rushed him to the nearby Silverline hospital where he was being treated, said an official from the municipal corporation’s disaster management control room.
According to the official, there were no other casualties in the incident.
The 850-metre skywalk was built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and thrown open for public in 2011. When asked, a police officer attached to local MHB police station said, “We have taken cognizance of the matter, inquiring into it and will register the case if lapses are found.”
Photograph by Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com used for representational purpose only.
09:11 JUST IN: According to NDTV, no Tamil Nadu visit on TN governor’s schedule as of now. Still in Mumbai
08:58 ‘Wasn’t allowed to meet ‘Amma’ in hospital even once’: After dropping a bombshell late on Tuesday night, saying he was forced to resign from the chief minister’s post, O Panneerselvam raised the ante against Sasikala and said that she had even restricted his access to Jayalalithaa while the latter was in hospital. “Had visited hospital daily to enquire about Jayalalithaa’s health condition, but couldn’t meet her even once,” he said.
He also raised doubts about the popular support that Chinnamma enjoyed, saying that party members were ‘helpless’ and that he had no malice against the party and that Sasikala didn’t enjoy the kind of support she was portraying to the media.
What does this mean? What does the immediate future hold for politics in Tamil Nadu?
08:24 Stalin backs OPS, wants functional govt in Tamil Nadu:
Tamil Nadu chief minister O Paneerselvam received support from unexpected quarters — opposition party leader and DMK working president M K Stalin – after the former declared that he had forced to resign.
Stalin said “strict action” should be taken against the people who had forced a sitting chief minister to resign. Stalin said DMK would function not as an enemy but as an opposition party and support a functional government in this time of crisis.
He urged the acting Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to establish a “functional government” in Tamil Nadu immediately.
Stalin said, “The Governor must do this either by convening the assembly or by finding out which party has the support of MLA majority.”
07:55 JUST IN: All AIADMK MLAs to meet at 10 am after O Panneerselvam’s revolt last night
07:50 Team Sasikala refutes OPS’ claims, say ‘all MLAs are united’:
AIADMK leader and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai dismissed O Panneerselvam’s claim that he was forced to resign as chief minister and insisted party chief V K Sasikala would become the chief minister as all the legislators were behind ‘Chinnamma’.
Emerging from the Poes Garden residence of Sasikala, he asked “Do you believe he was coerced, forced to resign?” and dismissed Panneerselvam’s claims, saying “Do we need such a chief minister?”
“All the MLAs are united…All the legislators are inside (pointing to the Poes Garden residence),” he said, adding in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK will continue its rule for the remaining four-and-a-half years.
He said “be it (the upcoming) civic poll or Parliamentary elections, we will win all under the leadership of Chinnamma.”
The AIADMK propaganda secretary also claimed “Panneerselvam is instable.”
State minister C Ve Shanmugam called Panneerselvam “a betrayer”.
02:08 DMK is behind Panneerselvam’s revolt: Sasikala:
Making a late night appearance outside her residence in Chennai, AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala said that the DMK has plotted this conspiracy against her.
“DMK is behind Panneerselvam’s revolt against me. He will be expelled from the party,” she said.
“No confusion or problem in our party. We are united like a family,” said Sasikala as she waved to supporters outside Poes Garden.
She further added, “I did not force O Pannerselvam for anything. What he is saying is not correct.”
00:51 Sasikala sacks OPS as AIADMK treasurer: Hours after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam made a shocking revelations, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary VK Sasikala has removed him as party treasurer.
Dindigul C Sreenivasan will replace him.
Meanwhile, celebrations has began at Panneerselvam’s residence after he hinted that he may withdraw his resignation if people of Tamil Nadu and party cadres so desired.
Source: Rediff