Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to meet Sasikala tomorrow

Earlier on Wednesday, claiming that she has the support of most of the AIADMK legislators, V K Sasikala, the aspiring Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, hit back at caretaker Chief Minister O Paneerselvam, dubbing him a "traitor", who plays into the hands of the opposition DMK to divide the ruling party.

A day after Paneerselvam went public waging a revolt against her, alleging that he is being pressurised  to step down in Sasikala's favour, the 61-year-old, who recently was elected as AIADMK General Secretary, convened a meeting of the party MLAs, where all but three of the 143 legislators were present.

Flaunting a victory sign, Sasikala, whose sudden rise to the top of the party is being opposed by some AIADMK leaders, was virulent in her attack against Paneerselvam, saying "betrayal will not be tolerated."

"Panneerselvam is playing to the dirty games of the DMK. All MLAs and leaders are extremely upset with what happened yesterday. Panneerselvam is lying to the people," Sasikala said.

"This is a naked attempt by DMK to break this party. I will not let that happen. With this I hope all of you, all of you who loved Amma will be with me."

Sasikala said when Jayalalithaa died there was confusion about the party's future. "It was my decision to make Panneerselvam  Chief Minister though many people asked me to become CM."

"I told them I wasn't in a mental position to become CM. I was grieving. For 2 months, Panneerselvam has collaborated with opposition. But i forgave him for that. But the events of the last two days have forced me to take this step."

"As the great MGR said, fear is foolishness, you must rise above fear. We will defeat those forces."

"I have faced many betrayals and I have overcome those episodes and I will overcome these as well. There is confusion in the minds of the people, but I will clear everything very soon. Enemies are coming thick and fast."

"This is a deviation from Amma's path and I won't allow it."

"If anybody tries to take us for a ride, we will see through it. Why was Panneerselvam quiet for so many days? Why was he collaborating with our enemies? " she asked.

Paneerselvam on Wednesday said that a judicial inquiry will be instituted into Jayalalithaa's death and accused VK Sasikala, the aspiring CM, of coercing him to resign from his post.

His statement came  before Sasikala, once the closest aide of late CM Jayalalithaa, takes oath as Chief Minister.

The bitter slugfest within the party became pronounced a day after former Speaker and senior AIADMK leader PH Pandian alleged that Jayalalithaa's death was unnatural, making insinuation of a foul play by Sasikala, whose sudden rise in the party is being opposed by many AIADMK leaders.

Reiterating that he would prove his majority in the Assembly by taking a trust vote, Paneerselvam  appealed to all MLAs that they should take a "firm decision taking into account the feelings of the people in their constituencies."

TN Governor Vidyasagar Rao reportedly consulted legal experts on whether such an oath-taking ceremony should be held at all as a plea was filed in the Supreme Court against her

Meanwhile, The Hindu has reported that 13 AIADMK party workers have been arrested in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchi district, for burning effigies of Panneerselvam.

Sasikala is expected to meet with the Governor when he returns to offer evidence, in the form of signatures of AIADMK legislators, as proof of her right to become Chief Minister.

However, Panneerselvam has said he will withdraw his resignation and ask the Governor to let him take a trust vote to establish that the majority of legislators support him - an unlikely prospect.