Paneerselvam prepares to meet Tamil Nadu governor ahead of Sasikala

According to media reports, Paneerselvam will meet the Governor to state his views on the issue of chief ministersship at 5 pm while Sasikala will stake her claim to the head of the state at 7 pm.

Ahead of  their  meeting with the  Governor, Paneerselvam received a shot in the arm as  senior AIADMK leader  E Madhusudhanan joined the revolt against Sasikala.

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 state politics saw a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday night when  Pannerselvam staging a major revolt against  VK Sasikala, elected the legislature party leader on Sunday.

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.

Meanwhile, media reports said  Panneerselvam is expected to issue an order  to convert 'Amma' J Jayalalithaa's iconic Poes Garden residence into a memorial.

The order, if passed, will be very significant since Sasikala  resides at the Poes Garden house and the decision may force her to vacate it.