New Delhi:
Tamil Nadu political turmoil seems to have intensified with time as Chief Minister Panneerselvam on Monday reported to work at Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
After the death Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam took oath as the state chief minister, who says he must remain the head of the government.
Here are the live updates:
# All MLAs at the resort are mentally and emotionally traumatised, Madurai South MLA Saravanan
# Madurai MLA S S Saravanan says he escaped before Sasikala arrived.
# We would eat 3 times a day, secretly interact with public through social networking sites & support OPS, Madurai MLA Saravanan
# All MLAs at the resort are mentally and emotionally traumatised, Madurai South MLA Saravanan
# I am a kitten, I myself have escaped & come...d "lion cubs" will also come, escaped MLA Saravanan
# Everything will be good for me: Sasikala on tomorrow's DA case verdict in Supreme Court
# AIADMK's South Madurai MLA Saravanan and MP from Madurai R Gopalakrishnan extend support to Paneerselvam
# Sasikala says "will stay with MLAs tonight" at Golden Bay resort in Kuvathu
# When I was coming here (resort), ppl called me to a hut & I went there; I saw Amma's photo there. That's where she lives, in their hearts: Sasikala
# Amma still alive in our hearts: Sasikala at Golden Bay resort in Kuvathur
# DMK is an expert in calculating things. When MGR passed away they did the same thing: Sasikala at Golden Bay resort in Kuvathur.
# Amid allegations of illegal detention, 119 pro-Sasikala MLAs inform Madras HC in writing that they were staying on their "own volition"
# We are not supporting any faction, AIADMK is our opponent and we oppose them as a whole: MK Stalin
# We will only comment on the DA case once it is out, can't comment right now: MK Stalin
# Governor should immediately take steps to establish a stable Govt in the state: MK Stalin
# Many of the development works have stagnated, most important issues are drinking water, farmer suicides, drought situation: MK Stalin
# Sasikala reaches resort in Kovathur where AIADMK MLAs are lodged
# AG Mukul Rohatgi suggests to Governor to summon special session of Assembly in a week to test support enjoyed by Paneerselvam and Sasikala - reports
# No, I don't think so: VK Sasikala on being asked if the delay in forming Government is because of pending DA case verdict
# DMK treasurer MK Stalin reaches party HQ in Chennai for strategy meeting
# VK Sasikala meets people en route to Golden Bay resort in Kuvathur
#We will continue our peaceful protest for formation of Government: AIADMK
#Betrayer Panneerselvam's true colours can be seen now: V K Sasikala addressing supporters gathered outside Poes Garden residence in Chennai
# Sasikala addressing supporters gathered outside Poes Garden residence, says attempts to divide AIADMK will not succeed
#OPS can do all tactics, but Sasikala will 100 per cent become the CM of Tamil Nadu, she will take Amma's legacy forward says Apsara Reddy of AIADMK
#We have seen 1000 such 'Panneerselvams'. For the past 33 years, we both have seen everything. So I am not scared
#Panneerselvam asked me to take charge then, but I said I can't at this juncture. So Panneerselvam was given responsibility.
#When I was in so pain, for the party's future I stood firm on my stand. All of you must know what is the truth.
#When Amma passed away, I came to know about conspiracy being hatched to divide the party.
#Peopel are trying to divide the organisation, I won't let this happen: V K Sasikala at Poes Garden.
#GS Mani says that the apex court should hear his side before passing any order in Sasikala matter
#G S Mani, lawyer for Satta Panchayat Iyakkam, files a caveat in the Supreme court on Sasikala matter.
#OPS reaches Tamil Nadu Secretariat.
#PIL filed in Supreme Court asking the Tamil Nadu Governor to invite VK Sasikala to form the government within 24 hours.
# DMK working president MK Stalin reaches Tamil Nadu secretariat.
# Panneerselvam offers prayers and meets supporters at his residence before leaving for Tamil Nadu secretariat.
However, things snowballed into a factional rivalry when VK Sasikala claimed her right to the post of chief minister, making it a political battle.
The power battle has intensified with the two factions trading charges. Panneerselvam claimed earlier in the day that MLAs were held there against their will and tortured and sought their release.
Chennai: #OPanneerselvam offers prayers and meets supporters at his residence before leaving for Tamil Nadu secretariat. pic.twitter.com/4bpPbaBJcw
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 13, 2017
Chennai: DMK working president MK Stalin reaches Tamil Nadu secretariat. pic.twitter.com/0ynVWLTyVG
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 13, 2017
Five Lok Sabha members and one Rajya Sabha member earlier on Sunday deserted Sasikala's faction and joined OPS, consolidating the support for latter, taking the total count to MPs to 10.
With no solution in sight for government formation in Tamil Nadu, the ruling AIADMK has asserted that a majority of its MLAs are behind General Secretary V K Sasikala and claimed the chances of Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao “inviting” her today were “high.”
Party spokesperson Vaigai Chelvan said Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had the support of seven MLAs and cannot therefore prove his majority in the state Assembly in the event of a floor test.
“He says he can prove his majority based on the wrong information given by someone. Majority of the AIADMK MLAs are with Chinnamma (Sasikala) and we are ready to prove our strength (in a floor test),” he told reporters here.
Sasikala was the elected Legislature Party leader of AIADMK and therefore the Governor should invite her to form government, he added.
“We expect the chances of his inviting (meeting) her today are high,” he said.
To a question on 11 MPs switching over to the camp of Panneerselvam, Vaigai Chelvan expressed confidence that they would return to the Sasikala fold.
In growing support for Panneerselvam, six more AIADMK MPs had joined his camp yesterday, taking the number of Parliamentarians in his favour to 11.
Sasikala had yesterday vowed to protect the party nurtured by her long-time friend, late Jayalalithaa, saying “I will give my life for this cause”.
Addressing the MLAs at the resort near here, which she visited for the second time in two days, Sasikala had said, “You 129 MLAs are like an ocean. None can contain it by building a check dam. No efforts will destabilise this government. None can hurt us and there is no need to fear.”
She also dismissed allegations that they have been held “hostage” at the resort, saying the MLAs were staying at the resort of their own accord and that they were “free”.
With PTI Inputs
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