Political observers say if the Supreme Court clears Sasikala then she could easily become Chief Minister. But if she loses she could go to jail for six years
AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala's political fortunes and her elevation to Tamil Nadu chief minister post hinge on Tuesday's verdict of the Supreme Court in the Disproportionate Assets (DA) case.
The verdict will also end the virtual political uncertainty looming over the state since caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's dramatic revolt on February 7 against Sasikala's elevation as the leader of the legislature party.
Coincidentally, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi also advised Governor Vidyasagar Rao, who is reportedly waiting for the Apex Court verdict in the DA case, to summon a special session of the Assembly in a week to test the support enjoyed by Paneerselvam and Sasikala.
The Supreme Court Bench, comprising Justice PC Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy, will pronounce the judgment at 10.30 am. The judgment comes after an appeal was made against the Karnataka High Court order in 2015 acquitting the late Jayalalithaa, her close aide Sasikala and two others. They were accused of allegedly amassing disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore when Jayalalithaa was the Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996.
Political observers feel that Sasikala will face no legal hurdle on her way to becoming chief minister if the judges confirm the High Court order acquitting her. In case the court convicts her, she will be sent to jail and will not be allowed to contest elections for six years. After the Apex court gives its verdict, the Governor, who has already met both Panneerselvam and Sasikala separately last Thursday, will finally reveal his intentions and end the political uncertainty.
Ahead of the Apex court's verdict, Sasikala, who hit the road again for the third consecutive day to the Golden Bay resort—where the 119 MLAs supporting her have been lodged, said on Monday that she and her MLAs staying at the resort would leave today and go on to form the government. "We are going to leave this resort happily on Tuesday. We are going to form the government," she said without referring to the SC's order amid a loud cheer of her MLAs. Later, when asked about the court order, she said she chose to view things positively.
Dismissing Panneerselvam's accusations that the MLAs were being locked up in the resort, she said, "I have decided to stay back in the resort itself. Panneerselvam through lawyers were filing false cases alleging that the MLAs were locked up. You can see for yourself, all them were free and happy here." Sasikla also accused the caretaker CM of threatening the family members of the legislators.
Despite Sasikala's claims, AIADMK's Madurai South MLA Saravanan, who switched over to the OPS camp on Monday evening, said that he planned an escape from the resort before she arrived there. "All the MLAs were being held hostage for the last six days. I an tell you that all of them will only vote for Panneerselvam on the floor of the Assembly," he said.
The Panneerselvam camp also got a further boost on Monday evening with one more MLA and Lok Sabha MP joining his side taking the total number of MLAs to eight and MPs to 12. Panneerselvam who had visited the state secretariat for the first time since he resigned on February 5, held a meeting with officials including the Home Secretary and ordered a compensation of Rs 3 lakh to the family of the girl who was molested and brutally murdered in Chennai.
As for the other parties, DMK working president MK Stalin made it clear that his party would not support either the Panneerselvam or the Sasikala camp in a floor test. "As far as politics is concerned, AIADMK is our enemy. Now there are two factions. We are not ready to support both of them," he said, after chairing his party's high-level committee meeting at the DMK headquarters.
He also reiterated his party's demand that the Governor should ask the ruling party faction to prove the majority and whoever wins should form the government.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Congress president Thirunavukkarasar accused the BJP of trying to make a backdoor entry into the state politics by using the Governor to delay the formation of a new government. Left parties also asked the Governor to act without further delaying the formation of a new government as the state is reeling under severe drought and farmers' suicide.
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