TN Govt. power tussle: Sacked AIADMK IT wing secretary pledges allegiance to Panneerselvam

Chennai [India], Feb. 8 (ANI): AIADMK IT wing secretary G Ramachandran, who was sacked earlier in the day by party General Secretary Sasikala Natarajan, avowed to continue supporting interim Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and devote himself towards the mission of Amma. Speaking to ANI here, Ramachandran said that he had been removed from his party position because he was showing support to Panneerselvam. "I congratulate the new secretary who has gotten the appointment and I would like to continue working in the path shown by Amma. Will continue supporting Pannerselvam and will work for the mission of Amma," he added. The move came soon after she warned her MLAs and party leaders that "betrayal" will never win in the AIADMK and blamed arch rival DMK for trying to destabilise her party. Sasikala had leveled similar charges against O Panneerselvam and accused him of colluding with opposition parties in the state. Sasikala said she had noticed "Panneerselvam joining hands with DMK following their conversation in the Assembly," recently and added that she said duty bound to prevent the next course of action from happening, apparently referring to a revolt. She referred to the remark of Deputy DMK Leader Durai Murugan who had last week in the Assembly favoured Panneerselvam to continue as Chief Minister for the rest of the term of the current government, i.e till 2021. "Panneerselvam not saying anything on this and his silence showed clearly that he had joined hands with DMK. His act had also infuriated the Ministers," she said. Last night, in a dramatic development at Marina Beach, Panneerselvam, who resigned from his post 2 days ago raised a banner of revolt and voiced out against his unceremonious ouster and said that he would, 'take back his resignation if partymen want him to'. "There are some truths that I want to tell to my party cadre and to the people of this country. I have performed my duty without any shortcomings and carried forward path shown by Amma. When she (Jayalalithaa) was in the hospital, she (asked me to take over as Chief Minister. I was told that I have to save the party and the state. I was given the post but was then insulted continuously," the interim Chief Minister said. He then dropped a bombshell by proceeding to say that he was presently being forced to step down from his post and pave way for Sasikala, revealing that Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar, has suggested Sasikala to take over his post. "The question of Sasikala becoming Chief Minister came up during a meeting at her place. At the time I asked how this was even justified. However, the party leaders said I have to take an initiative towards making her the Chief Minister, and that's how I was forced to tender resignation," Panneerselvam said. Meanwhile, 130 AIADMK MLAs who are supporting Sasikala, taken away in a bus to an undisclosed location, fearing horse-trading ahead of a possible floor test. (ANI)