AIADMK leaders stand with me, will prove majority: Panneerselvam

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Feb. 8 (ANI): Acting Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday said he enjoys the support of majority of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (AIADMK) leaders, adding that all of them stand with him. "I have full confidence on my party cadres. I enjoy support of the all the leaders of AIADMK leaders, all of them stand with me," Panneerselvam told ANI. Panneerselvam said he was asked by Governor C.H. Vidyasagar Rao to remain the Chief Minister until a new leader is elected. "After I submitted my resignation, the Governor had asked me to remain the acting Chief Minister of state until a new leader is elected. I continued with my post only after the Union Government asked me to do so," he added. Panneerselvam also revealed that he had to constantly face humiliations and was targeted by some his own party members after he assumed the charge. "After assuming the position of Chief Minister, many experiences which I had gone through had pained me a lot. Being a Chief Minister, I was targeted and humiliated. To be a Tamil Nadu Chief Minister is a huge task, but at each and every step, humiliation was carried out by the insiders who were close to me," he added. A day after alleging that he was forced to resign from the post of Chief Minister, Pannerselvam earlier today said he would prove his majority in the assembly session, while adding he would also welcome former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar to join his side. "I have not and will never betray the party. I will withdraw my resignation, if given an opportunity to do so and the MLAs will prove their support in the Assembly. I'm merely following the footsteps of former chief minister Jayalalithaa and I never went against her wishes," said Panneerselvam who was flanked by Kavundampalayam MLA V.C. Aaru kutty and Rajya Sabha MP Maitreyan. He said he will meet Governor C.H. Vidyasagar Rao and the Speaker alone to convene the assembly session soon. Calling Sasikala Natarajan as the "temporary general secretary", an emotional Panneerselvam said, "The Council can only appoint a temporary general secretary. Proper elections have to be held to elect a general secretary according to the party bye-laws. People are on my side." Handing out support to Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jaikumar, Panneerselvam said, "I have always had respect for Amma's brother's children. I will give Deepa the respect she needs. I will prove majority and lead people." Speaking about the doubts being raised over Jayalalithaa's health condition, Panneerselvam said an investigation committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge would be set up to reveal the facts to public. "Doubts about Amma's health are still prevalent. The government is duty bound to probe them. A probe commission will be set up headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and will reveal the details to the public," he added. (ANI)