AIADMK crisis: Two more senior leaders switch over to Panneerselvam's camp
VK Sasikala
Earlier, Sasikala reached the Golden Bay resort at Koovathur where she met?party legislators
The leadership crisis in the AIADMK took another turn with veteran AIADMK leader and party spokesperson C Ponnaiyanjoining acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's camp. Another leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Sathyabama also extended her support to Panneerselvam.
Earlier, AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala reached the Golden Bay resort at Koovathur where she metparty legislators who have been lodged there as she awaits an appointmentwith the Governor of Tamil Nadu.
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
Sasikala had visited Jayalalithaa's memorial at Chennai's Marina beach, before heading out to the resort at Koovathurto meet party MLAs.
Shehas sought an appointment with the Tamil Nadu Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao.It is expected that she will parade all those party legislators who are backing her before the Governor in a bid to prove her majority.
"I would like to seek an appointment with you by today along with all MLAs who extended their support to me regarding further course of action to form the government," the letter read.
"I believe your Excellency will act immediately to save the sovereignty of the Constitution, democracy and the interest of the state," the letter added.
The political tussle between the two factions led by caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam and VK Sasikala took a dramatic turn when the state education minister K Pandiarajan crossed over to the former's camp this morning.
"I have extended my support to the chief minister (OPS), our only aim is to keep party united," the minister said.
Pandiarajan was one of the 10 ministers who had accompanied AIADMK general secretary Sasikala to meet the state's Governor where she presented her credentials to stake claim for the chief minister's position.
Meanwhile, two MPs have extended support to Panneerselvam. Ashok Kumar from Krishnagiri and PR Sundaram from Namakkal have extended support to the caretaker chief minister, The Hindu reported.
The faction led by Panneerselvam was bolstered when Sasikala loyalist and the party's presidium chairman E Madusudanan wrote to the Election Commission of India asking it not to recognise VK Sasikala as the party general secretary.
Sasikala, later, expelled him as the party presidium chairman.
"People do not like Sasikala," Madusudanan, who is considered the No. 2 in the AIADMK said.
"Only to seek pardon (for associating with Sasikala), I have come to the side of Panneerselvam," he added.
AIADMK legislator V Maithreyan hailed Panneerselvam as Jayalalithaa's successor and said what began as a "silent meditation" had now led to an uprising.
On Wednesday, caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam met the governor and briefed him about the political developments in the state.
On Tuesday, in a dramatic turn of events, Panneerselvam, after visiting the Jayalalithaa memorial, announced that he was forced to resign as chief minister.
(WION with inputs from agencies)