Sasikala to meet Governor, stake claim to form govt: AIADMK minister

Chennai: In a show of strength, AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala will meet Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and stake claim to form government in Tamil Nadu, while Chief Minister O Panneerselvam will be meeting Rao separately to "apprise" him of the prevailing situation in the state.

"10 senior ministers are going to go with Chinnamma (Sasikala). All the MLAs are ready to go. It is, however, the decision of the Governor (to meet or not to meet all the legislators). The Governor is very positive, he has not raised any apprehensions," School Education Minister K Pandiarajan said.

"We have an official appointment at 7.30 pm. We will be staking our claim. There are no problems. There is no need to raise any problems," he told reporters here.

Sources in Panneerselvam's camp said the Chief Minister is scheduled to meet the governor at 5 pm on Wednesday and "apprise" him of the prevailing situation in Tamil Nadu.

Pandiarajan, answering questions on the rebellion of Panneerselvam, said it was wrong to say that he was forced to resign from his post.

"There was no pressure. There is no truth in it. Talking of coercion is laughable," he said.

He added, "Panneerselvam was all along with us when all the decisions were taken. No decision was taken by overruling him. Now, if he wants to take a different stand, it is his choice."

He said it was Panneerselvam who had proposed Sasikala's name for the post of party general secretary.

"To claim now that her appointment was not as per law is unadulterated opportunism... it is the height of hypocrisy," he said, adding all the general council members, including Panneerselvam, unanimously chose her.

AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi had on Wednesday claimed that the ruling party has the support of 131 party legislators and they had attended the meeting chaired by Sasikala to discuss the fallout of the revolt by Panneeselvam.