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TN crisis: Sasikala says 'ready to face probe over Jaya's death'; OPS insists he is AIADMK treasurer

Sasikala also said she was pained at the "politicisation of Amma's death." Meanwhile, Pannerselvam wrote letters to two banks saying that under the relevant party laws, he continued to be the AIADMK treasurer.

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Expressing her readiness to "face any probe" over the death of J Jayalalithaa, AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala said that she hopes the Tamil Nadu Governor would "uphold the Constitution" and invite her to take oath as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

Sasikala said that she was looking for an "explanation" why Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao refused to give her an audience despite many requests.

"We tried to meet him, but was told that the Governor is in Ooty. I hope the Governor protects the Constitution and upholds the dignity of law," she said in an interview to CNN-News18 TV channel.

Apparently referring to the questions raised by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who has rebelled against her, she said, "Amma Jayalalithaa knows who am I. So I don't need to answer anyone else."

Attacking Panneerselvam, whom she called a "traitor", she alleged that his act was a betrayal to Amma and claimed that his actions in the assembly were "suspicious." She alleged that the opposition DMK is now looking at Panneerselvam as one of their own.

Earlier, Panneerselvam had ordered a probe into what he said were doubts regarding the death of Jayalalithaa, which would be headed by a retired High Court judge. He had also accused Sasikala of not allowing him to meet the late Chief Minister when she was hospitalised for over 70 days.

"I am ready to face any inquiry into Jayalalithaa's death. Jayalalithaa knows who I am and how I behaved with her. Even the doctors who treated her know how I had treated her. I don't have any problem with an enquiry commission," she said.

The AIADMK leader said that she was not a bit worried about a probe but it is sad that Jayalalithaa's death was being politicised.

"We called doctors from the world over. All the news about her health is planted. There was no delay in taking Amma to the hospital," she asserted.

Sasikala also rubbished Panneerselvam's claim that he was threatened and forced to resign as Chief Minister. "There is no truth in his claim that he was threatened by us. He proposed me to take over as General Secretary of the party. Somebody is behind this. I think all this is politically motivated," she claimed.

Sasikala was chosen as CM nominee on Sunday but is yet to get an invitation from the Governor for swearing in.
Refusing to be drawn into a debate over this aspect, she only said "we have faxed a letter to the Governor. We have sent a letter again to him to remind him about our request.
They gave an acknowledgement, but that's it," she told the channel.

Sasikala also targetted rival party DMK alleging it may have had a role in instigating Panneerselvam to rebel.
"DMK must be behind Panneerselvam's recent activities," she said. DMK President M K Stalin, has vehemently denied his party has had anything to do with it.
"DMK is not only our political opposition, they are enemy our party too. We want to serve the people like how Jayalalithaa did. DMK did nothing for them," she said.

Meanwhile, O Panneerselvam on Wednesday insisted that he continued to be AIADMK treasurer and wrote to two banks here not to allow anyone else to operate the party's accounts. In separate letters to the two banks, located at Mylapore area, he said that under the relevant party laws, he continued to be the AIADMK treasurer.

"In accordance with Bye law 20, sub-clause 5 in the party constitution in continuance of my appointment as treasurer of AIADMK party by puratchi thalaivi amma, I request you not to permit anyone else to operate our AIADMK party's current account without my written consent and instructions," he said in the letters. The letters were addressed to the Chief Managers of Karur Vysya bank and Bank of India.

Panneerselvam further said that Rule 20 contemplates that the party General Secretary shall be elected by the party's primary members.
"Presently the post of General Secretary of AIADMK remains vacant as the appointment to the said post, which fell vacant upon the demise of puratchi Thalaivi Amma, is yet to be made in accordance with Rule 20 sub clause 2 of the said by law," he said in the letter.

Panneerselvam said office bearers like members of central executive committee, Deputy General Secretary, Treasurer and party Headquarters Secretary nominated by the General Secretary would continue to hold office till a new General Secretary is elected in accordance with relevant rules and bye laws.

Following his revolt against AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala last night, Panneerselvam was sacked as treasurer by his party leader, but the caretaker Chief Minister insisted that he continued to remain in the post. He had even said that Sasikala was elected General Secretary under extraordinary circumstances and that elections to appoint a permanent General Secretary would be held soon.

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