AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala on Saturday appeared to be on the backfoot in her fight against Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam for control of the party.
State education minister M Foi Pandiarajan, ex-minister C Ponnaian and two Lok Sabha members, Krishnagiri MP Ashok Kumar and Namakkal MP PR Sundaram, joined Panneerselvam. Sasikala, soon after, wrote a letter to governor C Vidyasagar Rao and urged him to meet her immediately. “Only to some extent we can be patient. After that we all together would do what needs to be done,” she said.
Panneerselvam and Sasikala are fighting a succession war after J Jayalalithaa, the party’s popular leader, died of illness in December. Panneerselvam resigned for Sasikala to be chief minister, but on Tuesday night he dramatically he revolted against her. Here are lives updates on the political crisis.
Live updates
5.20pm: According to AIADMK twitter handle, “Chinnamma chaired a meeting with party MLAs on the next set of actions to be taken.”
#TamilNadu: VK Sasikala chaired a meeting with party MLAs on the next set of actions to be taken, at Golden Bay resort in Kuvathur. pic.twitter.com/UsS5aQ9kts
— ANI (@ANI_news)February 11, 2017
VK Sasikala leaves the Kuvathur resort.
5.15pm: Sasikala meets AIADMK MLAs lodged at the Golden Bay Resort in Kuvathur . TV visuals show MLAs flocking around her and shouting slogans to pledge their support to her.
#WATCH: Sasikala surrounded by supporters at Golden Bay resort in Kuvathur where MLAs are present,slogans raised in her support #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/bSWb66ZaJl
— ANI (@ANI_news)February 11, 2017
5:10 pm: Another senior AIADMK leader and former minister C Ponnaian joins Panneerselvam’s camp.
4:40pm: “Our number will be more than what it is today and it will land at 135,” says K Pandiarajan, member of the Panneerselvam camp. “Drama is coming to a close soon. I’m at least in touch with 20 of them (MLAs) so I don’t think phones are switched off,” he adds.
4:20pm: Police steps up security around Raj Bhavan.
4:10pm: Kuvattur vilagers allege AIADMK men for harassing them, obstructing movement of men, women and children
3:50pm: VK Sasikala reaches Golden Bay Resort in Kuvathur where MLAs are lodged.
3:40pm: V Maitreyan from the Panneerselvam camp says Sasikala has threatened Governor, demands action.
3:00pm: Sasikala is going to meet party MLAs soon: AIADMK
2.40pm: Sasikala leaves her Poes Garden in Chennai to visit late party leader J Jayalalithaa’s memorial at Marina Beach. She will then go to Koovathur resort where AIADMK MLAs are being kept. The Panneerselvam camp claims the MLAs are being held captive
2.39pm: AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP V Maithreyan, who supports Panneerselvam, says the prime minister PM and home minister must “safeguard Tamil Nadu from forces which are all out against us and can take law into their hands”, reports news agency ANI
2.37pm: We urge PM and HM to safeguard TN from forces which are all out against us and can take law and order into their hands: AIADMK MP V Maithreyan
2.35pm: Chennai police commissioner orders probe into allegations that AIADMK MLAs are being held captive at the Golden Bay resort in Chennai to prevent being poached by Panneerselvam’s camp
2:15pm: State education minister M Foi Pandiarajan joins Panneerselvam’s camp along with two Lok Sabha MPs, Krishnagiri MP Ashok Kumar and Namakkal MP PR Sundaram
Source: HindustanTimes