<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>On December 29, 2016 &ndash; weeks after former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had passed away &ndash; the AIADMK&rsquo;s general council met and passed a resolution handing over the party&rsquo;s leadership responsibility to Jayalalithaa&rsquo;s close confidante V K Sasikala.&nbsp; &ldquo;The general council hands over the party leadership to Chinnamma Sasikala who was with Amma for the last 33 years and has experience in handling the party affairs. In this very important moment in the history of AIADMK, the general council resolves to be faithful to the leadership and give no room for conspiracies by evil forces&rdquo; the resolution read. &ldquo;In Chinnamma, we see our Amma and we would continue to work for the party under her leadership, just as we did under Amma&rsquo;s leadership&rdquo; it further said.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In less than three months, the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy &ndash; incidentally handpicked by Sasikala herself before she went to the Parappana Agraha jail after her conviction in Disproportionate Assets case &ndash; has decided to oust her nephew TTV Dinakaran and his family &ndash; from the party and government affairs. &ldquo;It is in keeping with the wishes of Amma that we have decided not to encourage centralisation of power in the hands of one family&rdquo;, state ministers say.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>The story of the rise and fall of Sasikala&rsquo;s family over three decades is perhaps a lesson in the quintessential ruthlessness of politics.</h5>
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<p>The story of the rise and fall of Sasikala&rsquo;s family over three decades is perhaps a lesson in the quintessential ruthlessness of politics.&nbsp; From being an extra-constitutional authority in the country&rsquo;s third largest party for about three decades to being reduced to its expelled members, Sasikala&rsquo;s and her family&rsquo;s story &ndash; is a potboiler of devotion inspired by fear and loyalty inspired by power. Appointed as deputy general secretary by his aunt Sasikala to fill in for her absence, Dinakaran was perhaps not hoping for a political journey without any glitches but he was certainly not expecting a coup d&#39;&eacute;tat from his own party men, most of whom had remained his hardcore loyalists till recently.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>For the handful of office-bearers, who still remain loyal to Dinakaran &ndash; the BJP, indisputably, has a role in all the commotion happening in the party. Many opine that BJP is trying to gain a foothold in the state by weakening the AIADMK and bringing it under its tacit control. But whether the BJP will be able to gain anything long term out of this confusion in the AIADMK remains a million dollar question.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>With its strong Dravidian roots, Tamil Nadu has essentially remained a state where the BJP is still struggling hard to make inroads. Despite its clout elsewhere, the BJP could manage to win a few seats only in alliance with either of the Dravidian majors. As recently as last year, the BJP could not win a single seat when it faced the Assembly elections almost alone. Even when a Modi wave swept across the country in 2014 Parliamentary elections, Tamil Nadu coldly remained untouched by it &ndash; winning just one seat in alliance with parties like the DMDK, PMK and MDMK.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>Over the next four years, the BJP might be able to manipulate the ruling AIADMK government to suit its interests in the state.</h5>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BJP perhaps hopes to break this jinx. There perhaps couldn&rsquo;t be a more opportune moment to strengthen itself in the state than now. After all, AIADMK known for its military discipline until Jayalalithaa was around is in tatters. There would be no single leader to ride herd on the AIADMK, strange as it might sound, for a party never known to step out of line. The leaders have come up with the suggestion of forming a committee to guide the party and government in future, but whether it is feasible in the long run for a party used to monolithic leadership since its inception is anybody&rsquo;s guess.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also, Dinakaran&rsquo;s exit from the party wouldn&rsquo;t mean an end to its problems. In fact, without a single leadership in place, more troubles might be brewing for the party. That includes possible power struggles between two factions after the merger. It is precisely this scenario that BJP perhaps hopes to take advantage of.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>But observers say the BJP&nbsp;can just about manage to use this confusion to their favor in the upcoming presidential elections and Rajya Sabha elections. Over the next four years, the BJP might be able to manipulate the ruling AIADMK government to suit its interests in the state. It may be recalled that the state government had towed the Centre&rsquo;s line on many issues that the former chief minister had vehemently opposed when she was alive. This may well continue and more so over the next four years, with the BJP&rsquo;s attempts to lord it over the now weakened AIADMK.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>But whether this would be converted into public support and votes, in the long run, is anybody&rsquo;s guess. For now, in the eyes of a common man, Dinakaran has gained an edge, however small, by deciding to exit instead of toppling the government as was expected. The social media that went gaga over O Paneerselvam&rsquo;s protest now is now using its other edge of the sword and accusing him of being BJP&rsquo;s minion. Clearly, Paneerselvam does not enjoy the same public support that he had enjoyed in the immediate aftermath of his revolt against Sasikala early February.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the kind of money and muscle power they are said to have, Dinakaran and Sasikala, will be hoping that after all the Sturm und Drang, the party will come back to them. Perhaps an unexpected denouement to this long drawn political drama might eventually unfold itself, yet again in Poes Garden. &nbsp;</p>


Arguably, BJP is trying to gain a foothold in the state by weakening the AIADMK and bringing it under its tacit control.

On December 29, 2016 – weeks after former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had passed away – the AIADMK’s general council met and passed a resolution handing over the party’s leadership responsibility to Jayalalithaa’s close confidante V K Sasikala. “The general council hands over the party leadership to Chinnamma Sasikala who was with Amma for the last 33 years and has experience in handling the party affairs. In this very important moment in the history of AIADMK, the general council resolves to be faithful to the leadership and give no room for conspiracies by evil forces” the resolution read. “In Chinnamma, we see our Amma and we would continue to work for the party under her leadership, just as we did under Amma’s leadership” it further said. In less than three months, the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy – incidentally handpicked by Sasikala herself before she went to the Parappana Agraha jail after her conviction in Disproportionate Assets case – has decided to oust her nephew TTV Dinakaran and his family – from the party and government affairs. “It is in keeping with the wishes of Amma that we have decided not to encourage centralisation of power in the hands of one family”, state ministers say. The story of the rise and fall of Sasikala’s family over three decades is perhaps a lesson in the quintessential ruthlessness of politics. × The story of the rise and fall of Sasikala’s family over three decades is perhaps a lesson in the quintessential ruthlessness of politics. From being an extra-constitutional authority in the country’s third largest party for about three decades to being reduced to its expelled members, Sasikala’s and her family’s story – is a potboiler of devotion inspired by fear and loyalty inspired by power. Appointed as deputy general secretary by his aunt Sasikala to fill in for her absence, Dinakaran was perhaps not hoping for a political journey without any glitches but he was certainly not expecting a coup d'état from his own party men, most of whom had remained his hardcore loyalists till recently. For the handful of office-bearers, who still remain loyal to Dinakaran – the BJP, indisputably, has a role in all the commotion happening in the party. Many opine that BJP is trying to gain a foothold in the state by weakening the AIADMK and bringing it under its tacit control. But whether the BJP will be able to gain anything long term out of this confusion in the AIADMK remains a million dollar question. With its strong Dravidian roots, Tamil Nadu has essentially remained a state where the BJP is still struggling hard to make inroads. Despite its clout elsewhere, the BJP could manage to win a few seats only in alliance with either of the Dravidian majors. As recently as last year, the BJP could not win a single seat when it faced the Assembly elections almost alone. Even when a Modi wave swept across the country in 2014 Parliamentary elections, Tamil Nadu coldly remained untouched by it – winning just one seat in alliance with parties like the DMDK, PMK and MDMK. Over the next four years, the BJP might be able to manipulate the ruling AIADMK government to suit its interests in the state. × The BJP perhaps hopes to break this jinx. There perhaps couldn’t be a more opportune moment to strengthen itself in the state than now. After all, AIADMK known for its military discipline until Jayalalithaa was around is in tatters. There would be no single leader to ride herd on the AIADMK, strange as it might sound, for a party never known to step out of line. The leaders have come up with the suggestion of forming a committee to guide the party and government in future, but whether it is feasible in the long run for a party used to monolithic leadership since its inception is anybody’s guess. Also, Dinakaran’s exit from the party wouldn’t mean an end to its problems. In fact, without a single leadership in place, more troubles might be brewing for the party. That includes possible power struggles between two factions after the merger. It is precisely this scenario that BJP perhaps hopes to take advantage of. But observers say the BJP can just about manage to use this confusion to their favor in the upcoming presidential elections and Rajya Sabha elections. Over the next four years, the BJP might be able to manipulate the ruling AIADMK government to suit its interests in the state. It may be recalled that the state government had towed the Centre’s line on many issues that the former chief minister had vehemently opposed when she was alive. This may well continue and more so over the next four years, with the BJP’s attempts to lord it over the now weakened AIADMK. But whether this would be converted into public support and votes, in the long run, is anybody’s guess. For now, in the eyes of a common man, Dinakaran has gained an edge, however small, by deciding to exit instead of toppling the government as was expected. The social media that went gaga over O Paneerselvam’s protest now is now using its other edge of the sword and accusing him of being BJP’s minion. Clearly, Paneerselvam does not enjoy the same public support that he had enjoyed in the immediate aftermath of his revolt against Sasikala early February. With the kind of money and muscle power they are said to have, Dinakaran and Sasikala, will be hoping that after all the Sturm und Drang, the party will come back to them. Perhaps an unexpected denouement to this long drawn political drama might eventually unfold itself, yet again in Poes Garden.

Is this really the BJP?s moment in Tamil Nadu?

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Like her friend and soul-sister J Jayalalithaa, V K Sasikala has this incomprehensible ability to bounce back from an adversity. Even when Jayalalithaa herself had twice banished her from her household, warning cadres against any kind of association with Sasikala, Chinnama (junior mother) had quietly managed to get back into Jayalalithaa&rsquo;s good books and stay there till her death on December 5.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The perseverance may have just begun to pay off.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>After over three decades of being Jayalalithaa&rsquo;s friend and soul-sister, Sasikala is now emerging out of the shadows of Jayalalithaa to become a leader in her own right. This was the moment that Sasikala was perhaps waiting for, through the three decades of her roller-coaster friendship with Jayalalithaa.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The friendship between Sasikala and Jayalalithaa was not as rosy as is being painted out to be.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sasikala first met Jayalalithaa in 1984 as proprietor of a video company with a proposal to record all her public meetings. Sasikala began visiting Poes Garden at the pretext of handing over cassettes and the friendship grew. Soon enough Sasikala moved in with Jayalalithaa to take care of all her personal affairs. But at least twice in their three-decade long friendship, Jayalalithaa had publicly renounced Sasikala and accused her family of conspiring against her. Till her death in December 2016, Jayalalithaa kept Sasikala&rsquo;s family at bay.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even when apologising to Jayalalithaa in 2011 for the misdeeds of her family, Sasikala wrote saying she would not aspire for any political post or favor with &lsquo;Amma.&rsquo; &ldquo;All I want to be is her sister and serve her,&rdquo; she had said. But Sasikala perhaps knew she just has to wait long enough.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;She took all the right decisions ever since she met Jayalalithaa. Even if it was placing Jayalalithaa over her family&rdquo; says journalist Durai Karuna who has covered AIADMK in Tamil Nadu for three decades. &ldquo;I am not surprised that almost the entire party was at Poes Garden asking Sasikala to take over after Jayalalithaa&rsquo;s death&rdquo;, he says.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>For many leaders accustomed to receiving orders from Sasikala, there was no one else who could lead them after &lsquo;Amma&rsquo;</h5>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jayalalithaa might not have named Sasikala successor, she was not even given any party post when Jayalalithaa was around. Yet, almost the entire party queued up at Poes Garden, asking Sasikala to step into her shoes. This happened primarily because they thought &quot;no one else can hold the party together.&quot; For many leaders accustomed to receiving orders from Sasikala, there was no one else who could lead them after &lsquo;Amma&rsquo;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;O Paneerselvam is one among us. Yes, Amma chose him to replace her as chief minister but it was a very temporary arrangement and he was only standing in for Amma. He could never become her,&rdquo; says a senior AIADMK leader from Sasikala&rsquo;s camp.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In what seemed like a well-scripted and well-played out drama, O Paneerselvam&rsquo;s revolt against Sasikala, two days after he put in his resignation to pave for her to take over as the chief minister, was an unexpected anti-climax. This revolt threatens to put an end to her yet to be launched political career but Sasikala is bracing herself for a long fight. &ldquo;Even if she goes down, she won&rsquo;t without a fight&rdquo;, says a political observer.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>So what are the challenges that Sasikala is facing now?</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>The overwhelming public sentiment against Sasikala is largely due to the alleged influence of her family over the AIADMK and the family&rsquo;s widespread corruption</h5>
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</div>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Paneerselvam&rsquo;s revolt is a thorn in her flesh she could well do without. Despite not having numbers on his side, Paneerselvam was perhaps cashing in on the overwhelming public sentiment against Sasikala. She would perhaps eventually take over as the chief minister as, at the moment, the numbers are on her side.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>But even Sasikala&rsquo;s supporters say that she will have to work really hard to earn the public acceptance. &ldquo;We are supporting Sasikala because we want to be loyal to Amma and the two leaves symbol. But Sasikala has to somehow change the public perception of her being corrupt. She has to keep her family out like Amma did. She met the governor along with her nephew T T V Dinakaran and obviously, it doesn&rsquo;t go well with the cadres. We hope she will do a course correction soon&rdquo;, says the AIADMK leader.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>That would be another big challenge for Sasikala if she intends to stay the political course. The overwhelming public sentiment against Sasikala is largely due to the alleged influence of her family over the AIADMK and the family&rsquo;s widespread corruption. So much so that the family has come to be referred as Mannargudi mafia by commoners.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The biggest challenge, however, and one that effectively puts a spoke on Sasikala&#39;s plans is the Disproportionate Assets case, the judgment of which will be delivered by the Supreme Court anytime now. If Sasikala is convicted in the case, she could neither become an MLA nor stay a chief minister. Sources say Governor Vidya Sagar Rao has put his decision to invite Sasikala to form the government on hold, pending the Supreme Court judgment.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>IF the judgment is adverse, it would be an adversity that Sasikala might find real tough to overcome.</p>


Sasikala has to somehow change the public perception of her being corrupt. She has to keep her family out like Amma did.

Like her friend and soul-sister J Jayalalithaa, V K Sasikala has this incomprehensible ability to bounce back from an adversity. Even when Jayalalithaa herself had twice banished her from her household, warning cadres against any kind of association with Sasikala, Chinnama (junior mother) had quietly managed to get back into Jayalalithaa’s good books and stay there till her death on December 5. The perseverance may have just begun to pay off. After over three decades of being Jayalalithaa’s friend and soul-sister, Sasikala is now emerging out of the shadows of Jayalalithaa to become a leader in her own right. This was the moment that Sasikala was perhaps waiting for, through the three decades of her roller-coaster friendship with Jayalalithaa. The friendship between Sasikala and Jayalalithaa was not as rosy as is being painted out to be. But at least twice in their three-decade long friendship, Jayalalithaa had publicly renounced Sasikala and accused her family of conspiring against her × Sasikala first met Jayalalithaa in 1984 as proprietor of a video company with a proposal to record all her public meetings. Sasikala began visiting Poes Garden at the pretext of handing over cassettes and the friendship grew. Soon enough Sasikala moved in with Jayalalithaa to take care of all her personal affairs. But at least twice in their three-decade long friendship, Jayalalithaa had publicly renounced Sasikala and accused her family of conspiring against her. Till her death in December 2016, Jayalalithaa kept Sasikala’s family at bay. Even when apologising to Jayalalithaa in 2011 for the misdeeds of her family, Sasikala wrote saying she would not aspire for any political post or favor with ‘Amma.’ “All I want to be is her sister and serve her,” she had said. But Sasikala perhaps knew she just has to wait long enough. “She took all the right decisions ever since she met Jayalalithaa. Even if it was placing Jayalalithaa over her family” says journalist Durai Karuna who has covered AIADMK in Tamil Nadu for three decades. “I am not surprised that almost the entire party was at Poes Garden asking Sasikala to take over after Jayalalithaa’s death”, he says. For many leaders accustomed to receiving orders from Sasikala, there was no one else who could lead them after ‘Amma’ × Jayalalithaa might not have named Sasikala successor, she was not even given any party post when Jayalalithaa was around. Yet, almost the entire party queued up at Poes Garden, asking Sasikala to step into her shoes. This happened primarily because they thought "no one else can hold the party together." For many leaders accustomed to receiving orders from Sasikala, there was no one else who could lead them after ‘Amma’. “O Paneerselvam is one among us. Yes, Amma chose him to replace her as chief minister but it was a very temporary arrangement and he was only standing in for Amma. He could never become her,” says a senior AIADMK leader from Sasikala’s camp. In what seemed like a well-scripted and well-played out drama, O Paneerselvam’s revolt against Sasikala, two days after he put in his resignation to pave for her to take over as the chief minister, was an unexpected anti-climax. This revolt threatens to put an end to her yet to be launched political career but Sasikala is bracing herself for a long fight. “Even if she goes down, she won’t without a fight”, says a political observer. So what are the challenges that Sasikala is facing now? The overwhelming public sentiment against Sasikala is largely due to the alleged influence of her family over the AIADMK and the family’s widespread corruption × Paneerselvam’s revolt is a thorn in her flesh she could well do without. Despite not having numbers on his side, Paneerselvam was perhaps cashing in on the overwhelming public sentiment against Sasikala. She would perhaps eventually take over as the chief minister as, at the moment, the numbers are on her side. But even Sasikala’s supporters say that she will have to work really hard to earn the public acceptance. “We are supporting Sasikala because we want to be loyal to Amma and the two leaves symbol. But Sasikala has to somehow change the public perception of her being corrupt. She has to keep her family out like Amma did. She met the governor along with her nephew T T V Dinakaran and obviously, it doesn’t go well with the cadres. We hope she will do a course correction soon”, says the AIADMK leader. That would be another big challenge for Sasikala if she intends to stay the political course. The overwhelming public sentiment against Sasikala is largely due to the alleged influence of her family over the AIADMK and the family’s widespread corruption. So much so that the family has come to be referred as Mannargudi mafia by commoners. The biggest challenge, however, and one that effectively puts a spoke on Sasikala's plans is the Disproportionate Assets case, the judgment of which will be delivered by the Supreme Court anytime now. If Sasikala is convicted in the case, she could neither become an MLA nor stay a chief minister. Sources say Governor Vidya Sagar Rao has put his decision to invite Sasikala to form the government on hold, pending the Supreme Court judgment. IF the judgment is adverse, it would be an adversity that Sasikala might find real tough to overcome.

Challenges before Sasikala: Family, party and the people of Tamil Nadu

<p>AIADMK general secretary Sasikala and Tamil Nadu&#39;s incumbent chief minister Panneerselvam continued to stake their claim to the chief minister&#39;s post on Sunday.</p>

<p>In her address to Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), most of whom who are currently lodged in a resort near Chennai, Sasikala claimed support of 129 legislators.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;You 129 MLAs are like an ocean. None can contain it by building a check dam. No efforts will destabilise this government. None can hurt us and there is no need to fear,&quot; she said.</p>

<p>She also accused acting chief minister O Panneerselvam of instigating &quot;some of our own&quot; and asked the legislators to continue serving the people and ensure AIADMK&#39;s continued electoral success.</p>

<p>Sasikala, who had earlier in the day observed that it was &quot;very difficult&quot; to be a woman in politics, said there were efforts to &quot;intimidate&quot; her as she was a woman, but asserted that she would not be cowed down.</p>

<p>She also broke down, reminiscing her predecessor, former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Accusing O Panneerselvam of instigating &quot;some of our own&quot;, she asked the legislators to continue serving the people and ensure AIADMK&#39;s continued electoral success.</p>

<p>Paneerselvam, on the other hand, said he would prove his strength on the floor of the Assembly.</p>

<p>&quot;Shedding crocodile tears, passing new remarks every day is not going to help. Will prove everything in assembly,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>&quot;Many many party cadres were voicing their opinion against Sasikala assuming charge as Tamil Nadu chief minister, he said.</p>

<p>Five legislators from Tamil Nadu assembly have officially joined Panneerselvam, who is an MLA himself.</p>

<p>The Tamil Nadu assembly has 234 members and to be chief minister, a leader has to prove the support of 118 lawmakers.</p>

<p>AIADMK lawmaker and the state&#39;s School Education Minister &nbsp;K Pandiarajan, who switched sides yesterday, said more legislators would walk away from Sasikala, NDTV had reported.</p>

<p>Panneerselvam claimed that the MLAs lodged in the resort were being intimidated with the aid of goons.</p>

<p>&quot;Even today many party MLAs are contacting me and telling, for each MLA there are four &#39;gundas&#39; (goons) sitting,&quot; the acting chief minister told ANI.</p>

<p>He called for the legislators to be &quot;released&quot; so that they could meet people in their respective constituencies.</p>

<p><strong>Governor awaiting verdict in disproportionate assets case: Sources</strong></p>

<p>Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, meanwhile, is reportedly unfazed and is awaiting the top court verdict on the disproportionate assets case involving the AIADMK general secretary.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/o-pannnerselvams-support-grows-2-more-lawmakers-join-10-updates-1658542">NDTV quoted sources</a> as saying that the Governor believes he has a constitutional duty to ensure a stable government is formed in the state. If convicted, Sasikala will not be able to contest elections for six years.</p>

<p>&quot;It is not just a question of numbers. The Governor is concerned about the&nbsp;ability to form a&nbsp;stable government. It is not right to try to intimidate with threats,&quot; a source told NDTV. He was referring to the AIADMK general secretary&#39;s threats of launching a protest over what she says is a &quot;deliberate delay&quot; to divide her party.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from PTI, ANI)<br />
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Panneerselvam said the Sasikala-camp legislators holed up in a resort be 'released' so that they could meet people in their constituencies

AIADMK general secretary Sasikala and Tamil Nadu's incumbent chief minister Panneerselvam continued to stake their claim to the chief minister's post on Sunday. In her address to Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), most of whom who are currently lodged in a resort near Chennai, Sasikala claimed support of 129 legislators. "You 129 MLAs are like an ocean. None can contain it by building a check dam. No efforts will destabilise this government. None can hurt us and there is no need to fear," she said. She also accused acting chief minister O Panneerselvam of instigating "some of our own" and asked the legislators to continue serving the people and ensure AIADMK's continued electoral success. Sasikala, who had earlier in the day observed that it was "very difficult" to be a woman in politics, said there were efforts to "intimidate" her as she was a woman, but asserted that she would not be cowed down. She also broke down, reminiscing her predecessor, former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Accusing O Panneerselvam of instigating "some of our own", she asked the legislators to continue serving the people and ensure AIADMK's continued electoral success. Paneerselvam, on the other hand, said he would prove his strength on the floor of the Assembly. "Shedding crocodile tears, passing new remarks every day is not going to help. Will prove everything in assembly," he said. "Many many party cadres were voicing their opinion against Sasikala assuming charge as Tamil Nadu chief minister, he said. Five legislators from Tamil Nadu assembly have officially joined Panneerselvam, who is an MLA himself. The Tamil Nadu assembly has 234 members and to be chief minister, a leader has to prove the support of 118 lawmakers. AIADMK lawmaker and the state's School Education Minister K Pandiarajan, who switched sides yesterday, said more legislators would walk away from Sasikala, NDTV had reported. Panneerselvam claimed that the MLAs lodged in the resort were being intimidated with the aid of goons. "Even today many party MLAs are contacting me and telling, for each MLA there are four 'gundas' (goons) sitting," the acting chief minister told ANI. He called for the legislators to be "released" so that they could meet people in their respective constituencies. Governor awaiting verdict in disproportionate assets case: Sources Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, meanwhile, is reportedly unfazed and is awaiting the top court verdict on the disproportionate assets case involving the AIADMK general secretary. NDTV quoted sources as saying that the Governor believes he has a constitutional duty to ensure a stable government is formed in the state. If convicted, Sasikala will not be able to contest elections for six years. "It is not just a question of numbers. The Governor is concerned about the ability to form a stable government. It is not right to try to intimidate with threats," a source told NDTV. He was referring to the AIADMK general secretary's threats of launching a protest over what she says is a "deliberate delay" to divide her party. (WION with inputs from PTI, ANI)

Sasikala claims support of 129 legislators, Panneerselvam says will prove strength in Assembly

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Sasikala claims support of 129 legislators, Panneerselvam says will prove strength in Assembly