The ruling party in India&#39;s southern state of Tamil Nadu continues to be blighted&nbsp;by defections, allegations and intrigue over who the next chief minister will be.

Tamil Nadu has been without a chief minister since last week, when O Panneerselvam resigned from the post due to alleged pressure from people in the ruling party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Since then, the party has been split into two factions: one supporting Panneerselvam and the other backing the party chief VK Sasikala.

Though currently the numbers are with Sasikala, there are lawmakers who are yet to make up their mind and have switched loyalties.

Tamil Nadu has 235 lawmakers in its local assembly and the next chief minister will have to have support of at least 118 people.

On Sunday, the Panneerselvam bloc got a fresh boost when two members of the parliament extended their support, taking the total tally to ten.

Sasikala received a severe blow when one of the senior ministers, K Pandiarajan, joined forces with her political adversary.

Senguttuvan and J Jeyasingh extended their support and met Panneerselvam at his residence.

Former AIADMK MP Ramarajan also met O Panneerselvam&nbsp;to extend his support.

On Saturday, an MLA and 4 MPs of AIADMK joined Panneerselvam after deserting party general secretary Sasikala who threatened to hold a protest on Sunday while targeting Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao for the delay in swearing her in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

But Sasikala has maintained that the numbers are on her side and is confident of becoming the next head of Tamil Nadu.

Sasikala took to Twitter to hit back at the opposing camp, saying she was confident of tiding over the current problem.

&ldquo;Tiding rough sea has taken AIADMK to pinnacle of success. The same group which went against Amma is now attacking us. I am not scared of such threats,&rdquo; she tweeted.

She also repsonded about a letter she apparently wrote to Jayalalithaa after being ousted from the party in 2011.

Panneerselvam had said she had written a letter to then party chief Jayalalithaa, in which she stated that she has no desire to get involved in politics.

Sasikala rubbished the letter, saying she never wrote such a letter.&nbsp;

&ldquo;A letter has been circulated as if I have written it. It shows there are people who cannot tolerate a lady getting into politics.The letter which claims to have been written by me is false,&quot; she wrote on Twitter.

The infighting started last Sunday (February 5) when Panneerselvam stepped down from the chief ministerial post. It was initially understood that he had resigned to pave the way for Sasikala to be the next chief minister.

But two days later, Panneerselvam&nbsp;whipped up a storm when he claimed that he was forced to step down.

(WION)

Ten MPs, 6 MLAs have joined Tamil Nadu caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam's camp

The ruling party in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu continues to be blighted by defections, allegations and intrigue over who the next chief minister will be. Tamil Nadu has been without a chief minister since last week, when O Panneerselvam resigned from the post due to alleged pressure from people in the ruling party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Since then, the party has been split into two factions: one supporting Panneerselvam and the other backing the party chief VK Sasikala. Though currently the numbers are with Sasikala, there are lawmakers who are yet to make up their mind and have switched loyalties. Tamil Nadu has 235 lawmakers in its local assembly and the next chief minister will have to have support of at least 118 people. On Sunday, the Panneerselvam bloc got a fresh boost when two members of the parliament extended their support, taking the total tally to ten. Sasikala received a severe blow when one of the senior ministers, K Pandiarajan, joined forces with her political adversary. Senguttuvan and J Jeyasingh extended their support and met Panneerselvam at his residence. Former AIADMK MP Ramarajan also met O Panneerselvam to extend his support. On Saturday, an MLA and 4 MPs of AIADMK joined Panneerselvam after deserting party general secretary Sasikala who threatened to hold a protest on Sunday while targeting Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao for the delay in swearing her in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. But Sasikala has maintained that the numbers are on her side and is confident of becoming the next head of Tamil Nadu. Sasikala took to Twitter to hit back at the opposing camp, saying she was confident of tiding over the current problem. “Tiding rough sea has taken AIADMK to pinnacle of success. The same group which went against Amma is now attacking us. I am not scared of such threats,” she tweeted. She also repsonded about a letter she apparently wrote to Jayalalithaa after being ousted from the party in 2011. Panneerselvam had said she had written a letter to then party chief Jayalalithaa, in which she stated that she has no desire to get involved in politics. Sasikala rubbished the letter, saying she never wrote such a letter. “A letter has been circulated as if I have written it. It shows there are people who cannot tolerate a lady getting into politics.The letter which claims to have been written by me is false," she wrote on Twitter. The infighting started last Sunday (February 5) when Panneerselvam stepped down from the chief ministerial post. It was initially understood that he had resigned to pave the way for Sasikala to be the next chief minister. But two days later, Panneerselvam whipped up a storm when he claimed that he was forced to step down. (WION)

India: AIADMK chief Sasikala vows to tide over problems as lawmakers shift camps

India&#39;s Madras High Court on Friday asked the Tamil Nadu police to file an affidavit on AIADMK MLAs lodged at a resort near the southern state&#39;s capital of Chennai.

A Habeas Corpus petition&nbsp;on Thursday had alleged illegal detention of 130-odd ruling AIADMK MLAs after the Tamil Nadu government said the legislators were staying at the MLAs&#39; Hostel and &quot;free to move around&quot;.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has refused to give an urgent hearing on a Public Interest Litigation seeking to restrain AIADMK leader VK Sasikala from being sworn in as Tamil Nadu chief minister till it decides the disproportionate assets case against her.

Sasikala has staked claim to form the government at a meeting with Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, who has not yet given any indication as to what course of action he will take.

Hours after caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam visited Rao on Thursday, Sasikala called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan.The meeting with the governor lasted about 40 minutes. AIADMK claimed 131 MLAs had attended a meeting called by her in the wake of a rebellion by O Panneerselvam, who resigned as the chief minister on February 6 triggering another wave of political instability in the state.

Panneerselvam had called on Rao and after a brief meeting told reporters that &quot;good things will happen and dharma will triumph.&quot;

He currently has the support of leaders like former Ministers KP Munusamy, Natham R Viswanathan, Rajya Sabha MP V Maithreyan and a few sitting MLAs, besides AIADMK presidium chairman E Madusudanan, who switched sides and is now backing Panneerselvam.

Pannerselvam has been maintaining that he was prepared to reconsider his resignation if people and the party cadres so desired. Though Sasikala appears to have the backing of an overwhelming majority of MLAs, public support for Panneerselvam was reported to have grown following his rebellion.

Before O Panneerselvam revolted against Sasikala claiming he was forced to resign, he had submitted his resignation to the governor on February 6 and was asked to continue in office till alternative arrangements were made.

Pannerselvam has been maintaining that he was prepared to reconsider his resignation if people and the party cadres so desired. Though Sasikala appears to have the backing of an overwhelming majority of MLAs, public support for Panneerselvam was reported to have grown following his rebellion.

(This report &nbsp;first appeared in DNA)

&nbsp;

A Habeas Corpus petition?on Thursday had alleged illegal detention of 130-odd ruling AIADMK MLAs in the wake of the ongoing political crisis

India's Madras High Court on Friday asked the Tamil Nadu police to file an affidavit on AIADMK MLAs lodged at a resort near the southern state's capital of Chennai. A Habeas Corpus petition on Thursday had alleged illegal detention of 130-odd ruling AIADMK MLAs after the Tamil Nadu government said the legislators were staying at the MLAs' Hostel and "free to move around". Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has refused to give an urgent hearing on a Public Interest Litigation seeking to restrain AIADMK leader VK Sasikala from being sworn in as Tamil Nadu chief minister till it decides the disproportionate assets case against her. Sasikala has staked claim to form the government at a meeting with Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, who has not yet given any indication as to what course of action he will take. Hours after caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam visited Rao on Thursday, Sasikala called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan.The meeting with the governor lasted about 40 minutes. AIADMK claimed 131 MLAs had attended a meeting called by her in the wake of a rebellion by O Panneerselvam, who resigned as the chief minister on February 6 triggering another wave of political instability in the state. Panneerselvam had called on Rao and after a brief meeting told reporters that "good things will happen and dharma will triumph." He currently has the support of leaders like former Ministers KP Munusamy, Natham R Viswanathan, Rajya Sabha MP V Maithreyan and a few sitting MLAs, besides AIADMK presidium chairman E Madusudanan, who switched sides and is now backing Panneerselvam. Pannerselvam has been maintaining that he was prepared to reconsider his resignation if people and the party cadres so desired. Though Sasikala appears to have the backing of an overwhelming majority of MLAs, public support for Panneerselvam was reported to have grown following his rebellion. Before O Panneerselvam revolted against Sasikala claiming he was forced to resign, he had submitted his resignation to the governor on February 6 and was asked to continue in office till alternative arrangements were made. Pannerselvam has been maintaining that he was prepared to reconsider his resignation if people and the party cadres so desired. Though Sasikala appears to have the backing of an overwhelming majority of MLAs, public support for Panneerselvam was reported to have grown following his rebellion. (This report first appeared in DNA)

India: Madras High Court asks Tamil Nadu police to file affidavit on AIADMK MLAs kept at resort

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India: AIADMK chief Sasikala vows to tide over problems as lawmakers shift camps

India: Madras High Court asks Tamil Nadu police to file affidavit on AIADMK MLAs kept at resort