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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Feb 08, 2017, 02:34 AM IST
Amidst growing revolt against appointment of VK Sasikala Natarajan as the Chief Minister, current chief minister O Panneerselvam has joined the revolt. After paying homage to Jayalalithaa at her memorial on Marina Beach where he meditated for 40 minutes, he said that he was forced to resign as CM to make way for Sasikala. He also said that when Jayalalithaa was hospitalised, she had asked him to take over the governance of Tamil Nadu.
Clad in a white shirt and dhoti, and sporting his trademark holy ash and kumkum, he sat on the floor inside the burial site enclosure in a traditional meditating posture on Tuesday. Later while talking to reporters, he claimed that Jayalaltihaa's spirit spoke to him and asked him to reveal the truth to people. Earlier in the day, senior AIADMK leader PH Pandian raised suspicion over Jayalalithaa's death claiming that she was murdered.
On the other hand, a PIL was filed in Supreme Court on Monday restraining the swearing-in of Sasikala which was earlier to be held on Tuesday. Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao had also cancelled his trip to Chennai on Monday stating that he was waiting for Supreme Court to take a stand on the case. Panneerselvam had on Sunday tendered his resignation from the post of Chief Minister citing 'personal reasons' and setting the stage for takeover of Sasikala, who was elected as Legislature Party leader earlier that day.
Meanwhile, Sasikala Natarajan claimed that there was no confusion or problem in the party, and that they were united like a family. She also claimed she hadn't forced O Panneerselvam to do anything and what he said wasn't correct. She also claimed that DMK was behind Panneerselvam's rebellion.
In a quick retaliation after he raised a banner of revolt against her, AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala tonight sacked O Panneerselvam from the top party post of treasurer. She replaced Panneerselvam with Dindigul C Srinivasan, who is also the Forest Minister and is seen number two in the hierarchy in the Council of Ministers. The decision to remove Panneerselvam comes after a top level meeting Sasikala chaired at the Poes Garden residence, in which some sitting ministers and a section of senior functionaries participated.
In a brief statement, Sasikala said "O Panneerselvam is being relieved from the post of AIADMK treasurer and Dindigul C Srinivasan is appointed to that post. Party cadres should extend their full cooperation to Srinivasan." Meanwhile, supporters continued to throng the Greams Road official residence of Chief Minister Panneerselvam. Many broke into a jig and thanked him for "listening to his conscience and heeding to the call of the soul of Amma." Party sources said that Panneerselvam would soon come out with a comprehensive plan of action that he will pursue.
on after being removed from the post of AIADMK treasurer by party General Secretary VK Sasikala, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said none had the right to do so and rubbished her claims that DMK was behind his moves.
He said his next course of action would "reflect" the "aspirations" of AIADMK cadres and people of Tamil Nadu. "No one has the right to remove me from the post of treasurer which was given to me by Amma 10 years ago," he told reporters. Panneerselvam said he had discharged his duties as party treasurer to the satisfaction of Jayalalithaa. "I have the fulfilment that I have done my job as treasurer fully to the satisfaction of Amma."
On Sasikala's charge that the DMK was behind him as he was all along smiling at Leader of Opposition in Assembly MK Stalin, he said "only humans can laugh and smiling at people cannot be a crime."
Asked if the AIADMK chief had charged him with association with DMK as she could not find any other allegation, he quoted a Tamil proverb, the meaning of which is "I have nothing and no one to fear as I have done no wrong." Panneerselvam also said "I am a grassroot-level ordinary party worker." Asked if he would launch a new party and if he would call on Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, he said "please wait and see."
With inputs from agencies
