OPS vs Chinnamma: Pannerselvam gets boost as MLA, four MPs join his faction

In the ongoing Tamil Nadu turmoil over chief ministerial position, Panneerselvam got a boost after an MLA and 4 MPs of AIADMK joined him, deserting V K Sasikala’s faction.

Sasikala on Saturday targeted Governor Vidyasagar Rao for delay in swearing-in and threatened to hold protest on Sunday.

Sasikala, the AIADMK General Secretary who met the legislators supporting her at a retreat near Chennai said that the delay by the Governor in inviting her to form the government appeared to facilitate split in our party.

Sasikala, earlier in the day wrote to the Governor, asking him to take steps immediately to swear her in at the earliest.

She said she was ready to parade the party MLAs supporting her before him.

Things turned a bit difficult for Sasikala when MLA and School Education Minister K Pandiarajan and four MPs -- P R Sundaram, K Ashok Kumar, V Sathyabama and Vanaroja -- switched over to OPS faction pledging their support to him amid mounting pressure from the party cadres and apparent public sentiment.

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Party veteran C Ponnaiyan, party spokesman has also offered his support to Panneerselvam.

Panneerselvam camp now has seven MLAs, including him. In the 235-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, AIADMK has 135 MLAs.

As the Governor remained indecisive even 48 hours after she staked claim to form the government, Sasikala tonight said, “We waited till today. Tomorrow, we will protest in another form.”

Sasikala to avoid any further desertions, drove to the luxury resort, in an attempt to prevent the MLAs who have been put up there for the last three days from switching sides.

With PTI Inputs

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