Police personnel at the Madras University Centenary Auditorium return to stations

Chennai: Police personnel who were posted at the Madras University Centenary Auditorium have been asked to go back to their respective stations, in a significant development indicating that AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala will not be sworn in as Chief Minister anytime soon. The custody of the building was handed over back to the varsity administration by the State machinery. The police personnel was withdrawn minutes after DGP T K Rajendran met Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and held discussions. Arrangements for Ms Sasikala’s swearing-in as Chief Minister were underway at the auditorium from Monday and police personnel were also posted.

“I have been asked to go back to my police station and I am leaving. So are others,” a police constable told DC. Sasikala had on Thursday night met Mr Rao to stake claim to form the government. However the Governor is understood to have asked her to wait since Chief Minister O Panneerselvam is also demanding time to prove his majority. The Madras University Centenary Auditorium was taken over by the Public Works Department on February 6 in anticipation of the swearing-in ceremony. The officials from the department have sanitised the auditorium and decorated the stage for the ceremony.

“First, they expected the function to take place on February 7 or 9. Since there is no confirmation on the date of the function, the auditorium was handed back to the varsity on Friday,” an official source from University said requesting anonymity. “We have prior commitments and we will go ahead with it. The auditorium will host a school function on Saturday,” the source added.