Tamil Nadu : AIADMK infighting intensifies as senior leader joins revolt against Sasikala

Chennai, Feb 9 (IBNS) :  Ahead of VK Sasikala's meeting with Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Thursday  to stake claim to be Tamil Nadu's next Chief Minister, senior AIADMK leader  E Madhusudhanan joined the revolt against her by defecting to the side of O Pannerselvam, the caretaker Chief Minister, who is unwilling to give up his  post, reports said.

Madhusudhanan is considered  the AIADMK's number 2 as its Presidium Chairman. 

He visited  Panneerselvam's residence and the two leaders  announced a  protest against  Sasikala.

“Our senior leader Madhusudan was threatened and pressuris ed, even after that he stood alone to safeguard party. He helped the party grow and supported MGR throughout. We welcome him,” Panneerselvam said.

“It is Sasikala who is doing dirty tricks to acquire the chair of CM, if she succeeds it will be a big blot on democracy.”

Paneerselvam is being backed by among others, PH Pandian and V Maitreyan-two very senior AIADMK leaders.

Though Sasikala claims to have the support of 130 of the party's 134 MLAs, Paneerselvam claims that there are many who will support him if a trust vote takes place.

The politics of the state witnessed a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday night when  Pannerselvam staging a major revolt against  VK Sasikala, elected the legislature party leader on Sunday and tipped to be the next CM.

Pannerselvam alleged that he was forced to resign from the Chief Minister's post  by the Sasikala camp.

On Wednesday, Sasikala paraded the party’s 130-odd MLAs in a show of strength at the party headquarters and then herded the into three buses and sent them to an undisclosed location to thwart any attempts at poaching.

Tamil Nadu governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao is set to reach Chennai on Thursday evening.