Tamil Nadu governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao is set to reach Chennai on Thursday evening amid a bitter war between AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala and acting chief minister O Panneerselvam, both of whom claim majority support in the ruling party.
Maharashtra governor Rao, who holds additional charge of Tamil Nadu, is said to be waiting for instructions from Delhi on the further course of action.
The politics of the state witnessed a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday night with Pannerselvam staging a major revolt against party legislative leader VK Sasikala. Pannerselvam said he was forced to resign from the chief minister post by the Sasikala camp, an allegation that was later denied by the AIADMK general secretary.
Read | Tamil Nadu in turmoil as political war in AIADMK escalates: 5 things to expect
On Wednesday, Sasikala paraded the party’s 130-odd MLAs in a show of strength at the party headquarters and then packed them off into three buses and sent them to an undisclosed location – a luxury hotel – to thwart any attempts at poaching.
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11.40am: PIL in Madras high court says MLAs are being held captive. Public prosecutor tells court,“MLAs are staying at MLA’s hostel.”
11.35am: Ex-AIADMK MLAs Poonamalle, Manimaran and MM Babu arrive at O Panneerselvam ‘s residence.
11:30am: AIADMK MPs are also protesting in the well of the house in Rajya Sabha
11:25am: Panneerselvam is finalising plans to replace top police officers including DGP Rajendran & commissioner S George by Thursday evening.
11:15am: O Panneerselvam to issue orders to make Poes Garden residence Jayalalithaa’s memorial.
11:00am: Sasikala sacks Puducherry former MLA Om Sakthi Sekar from AIADMK, reports ANI.
10:00am: Clarifying their position in the upheaval in the state, the DMK said Pannerselvam and Stalin share a very ‘political relationship’.
“Pannerselvam and Stalin sit on opposite sides. They share a very political relationship. If the government does good, we appreciate it. If it does something bad, we criticise it. It’s a normal thing,” DMK leader TKS Elangovan told ANI. He also said it’s not completely wrong if the Congress blames the BJP.
9:00am: Tamil Nadu government revokes suspension of former state chief secretary Gnanadesikan and geology and mines commissioner Atul Anand, reports ANI.
Gnanadesikan was suspended last year in August from service on charges of alleged irregularities and for certain decisions on power tenders and contracts during his tenure. Anand was suspended after being accused of having links in beach sand mining.
The suspension of both the senior bureaucrats was issued by late chief minister J Jayalalithaa after a high-level meeting last year.
(With agency inputs)
Source: HindustanTimes