Majority of MLAs with Sasikala: AIADMK spokesperson

Chennai: With no solution in sight for the political crisis in Tamil Nadu, the ruling AIADMK has asserted that a majority of its MLAs are behind General Secretary Sasikala Natarajan and claimed the chances of Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao "inviting" her on Monday were "high."

Party spokesperson Vaigai Chelvan said that 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 wrong information given by someone. Majority of the AIADMK MLAs are with Sasikala and we are ready to prove our strength (in a floor test)," he told reporters here.

Sasikala was the elected as the Legislature Party leader of AIADMK and therefore the Governor should invite her to form the 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 on Sunday, taking the number of Parliamentarians in his favour to 11.

Sasikala had also on Sunday 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. No one can contain it by building a check dam. No efforts will destabilise this government. No one 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".