‘People will decide if EPS victory is valid’

CHENNAI: Former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam said people of the state would decide whether the victory of the E Palaniswami (EPS) government in the trust vote was “valid or not.”

“People of Tamil Nadu will decide whether the resolution passed today (electing Edappadi K Palaniswami) in the assembly is valid or not,” he told reporters at the secretariat.

Panneerselvam said his struggle would continue until late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa’s rule was formed in the state. He said his supporters had made two requests to Speaker P Dhanapal which were turned down by him.

The first was to allow AIADMK MLAs (staying in a resort) to visit their respective constituencies and then take part in the confidence vote.

“But he (Dhanapal) did not accept it. Second request was to conduct the secret ballot vote which again he did not agree to,” Pannerselvam said.

Expressing sympathies towards DMK MLAs who were forcibly evicted from the House, the former CM said, “It is against democracy and the resolution was passed after they were evicted from the assembly.”

On the appointment of AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala’s family members on top party posts, Pannerselvam said “if Jayalalithaa was alive, she would have continued to ensure that they did not have any access to the party”.

“Today the fight is between the followers of Amma and Sasikala. The team led by Amma (Jayalalithaa) will win .... definitely,” he added.

PTI