Chennai:
As the Supreme Court convicted AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala in DA case, the crisis in Tamil Nadu politics has deepened. The focus from Sasikala vs O Panneerselvam has now shifted to Edappady K Palanisami vs O Panneerselvam.
Legal experts say floor test is the best way of resolving as to who among the two—Edappady K Palanisami and O Panneerselvam—can be invited as the new Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
Their opinion came as Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao sought the services of three legal luminaries—Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, Soli Sorabjee and Mohan Parasaran to decide on the formation of a new government.
Here are the live updates:
#6.41PM
Four cars in Sasikala's convoy attacked near Bengaluru court
#6.21PM
Sasikala, Illaverasi appear before judge after medical check up, third convict Sudhakaran has not yet reached court
#6:13PM
VK Sasikala surrenders in Bengaluru court
#5:19PM
VK Sasikala reaches Bengaluru jail (Parappana Agrahara) to surrender before court
#5:15PM
Court hall where AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala is to surrender has been shifted to the central jail at Parapppana Agrahara due to security reasons
#5:04PM
Guv after going through letter of support of 125 MLAs assured that we'll be called soon to form govt: TN Min Saroja (VK Sasikala supporter)
#4:31PM
#TamilNadu: Police force deployment outside Golden Bay Resort in Kuvathur where AIADMK MLAs are lodged pic.twitter.com/XcV85MsXNA
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2017
#2:28 PM
Kanchipuram SP along with 50 cops are at Golden Bay Resort after MLA Saravanan filed complaint of MLAs being abducted
#1:20 PM
Tamil Nadu: On complaint of Madurai MLA S Saravanan, kidnapping case filed against VK Sasikala & K Palanisamy in Kuvathur Police Station
#12:50 PM
#VKSasikala visits MGR Memorial House in T Nagar, Chennai before heading to Bengaluru #SasikalaConvicted pic.twitter.com/xRHDSSM9pR
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2017
#12:40 PM
Registrar of Karnataka HC orders shifting of court to Central prison, Bengaluru
#WATCH: #VKSasikala visits Jayalalithaa's memorial at Chennai's Marina Beach before heading to Bengaluru, pays floral tribute pic.twitter.com/1t8C150GKf
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2017
#12: 04 PM
AIADMK members are united, says Sengottaiyan.-PTI
#12:03 PM
Sasikala loyalist Sengottaiyan says he is hopeful Palaniswami will be invited by Governor to form government.-PTI
#VKSasikala pays floral tribute to Jayalalithaa at Chennai's Marina Beach before heading to Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/YgCIZE8zzc
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2017
#VKSasikala, who is to surrender in a DA case before a Bengaluru court, leaves Poes Garden residence in Chennai pic.twitter.com/HAiFNtSLfx
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2017
#11:05 AM
#VKSasikala likely to surrender today in DA Case, she may also seek two weeks time on health grounds. #TamilNadu-ANI
#TamilNadu Visuals from Poes Garden residence in Chennai; Supreme court refuses to grant more time to #VKSasikala to surrender in DA Case pic.twitter.com/cdF6WRAKBt
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2017
#10:47 AM
#Sasikala wanted some time to surrender to manage her affairs before going to jail, says her advocate K T S Tulsi-PTI
#10:45 AM
We do not intend to pass any order on this (Sasikala asks for more time to surrender) . We are not going to change anything in the judgement: SC. -PTI
Tamil Nadu: Posters of #OPanneerselvam and #Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar seen in Chennai. pic.twitter.com/pO1guxBWZC
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2017
#10:38 AM
VKSasikala mentions before Supreme Court seeking more time to surrender, but SC refuses to give more time-ANI
#10:09 AM
Final majority,even within party,can only be on House floor;I expect in next 2-3days,position will b cleared&there'll be regular CM-M Rohatgi-ANI
#10:03 AM
Overbuilt more majority, he can also swear in that person and ask him to prove his majority on the floor of the house: Mukul Rohatgi-ANI
#10:02AM
Guv now can either have composite floor test b/w heads of 2 rival grps&decide who'll be CM or if he finds that one grp has (Cotd): M Rohatgi-ANI
#10:01 AM
TTV Dhinakaran appointed as Deputy General Secretary of AIADMK: AIADMK-ANI
#9:48 AM
Hoardings put up outside #Panneerselvam's residence in #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/ds5rRT5bpx
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2017
AIADMK chief Sasikala re-inducts her relatives Dinakaran and Venkatesh in the party, years after they were expelled by Jayalalithaa. -ANI
#8:45 AM
Latest visuals from Chennai's Poes Garden residence where VK Sasikala is present, security arrangements in place #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/BgDoa5T5JJ
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 15, 2017
Noted constitutional expert Anil Divan, senior advocates Ajit Kumar Sinha and Govind Goyal are of the opinion that since there is no Chief Minister in the state today, the one who commands the support of the majority of the party MLAs has to be given the chance to form new government.
ALSO READ | Sasikala stays strong, says ‘No force can wean away AIADMK from me’
Differing with them, senior advocate Vikas Singh said “Tamil Nadu Governor is playing politics in the state and seems to be hell bent on O Panneerselvam who does not have a majority.”
“Palanisami has the support of 124 MLAs, then why is the Governor not administering oath to him immediately,” he asked and added that “there is no question of composite test and it looks like that the Centre wants to break the AIADMK party.”
Without venturing into the issue whether the Governor was playing politics or not, Goyal however said “the person who can be called to form government has to show that he is elected as the leader by a group having largest number of MLAs on his side.”
ALSO READ | Sasikala convicted - what all happened on Tuesday
Taking a slightly different stance, Divan said “the correct thing for the Governor to do in this scenario is to call both of them—Panneerselvam and Palanisami—and find out prima facie who has the majority and give that person a chance.”
“Today, there is no Chief Minister in the state. Appoint the person who has the support, as the Chief Minister. Then in five days, conduct a floor test and let them prove who has the majority,” he said.
ALSO READ | Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar joins politics, extends support to Panneerselvam
Sinha, who is a former High Court judge and Vice President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, said “The signatures on paper may not be correct and it has to be resolved on the floor of the House. Many people are voluntarily not coming forward and all this will be clear after the floor test.”
On Paneerselvam, Goyal said today he is only the interim Chief Minister and by the number game, he is behind Palanisami who was today elected as the AIADMK legislative party leader.
He said if Paneerselvam claims the Chief Minister’s post he has to come out with a fresh claim with legislators’ support.
