OPS draws more MPs, Sasikala guards MLAs
Verdict in disproportionate assets case likely this week
CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala paraded her MLAs before media on Sunday, though none were allowed to speak to reporters, as she tried to scotch allegations that the lawmakers were being held hostage to stop them from crossing sides.
The move came on a day five more parliamentarians pledged support to acting chief minister O Panneerselvam, who is locked in a bitter struggle with Sasikala over Tamil Nadu’s top job.
Sasikala, who is trying to take over the reins and allegedly forced Panneerselvam to quit, drove to the Golden Bay resort near the beach town of Mahabalipuram for the second day running to meet the MLAs, who were kept there since Wednesday night.
For the first time since more than a hundred lawmakers were corralled into the resort, media was allowed inside.
“Look at these people. How free they are and this proves all the false claims being made by those opposing us. They are living here like good family members. They were saying MLAs were kept in detention. But see for yourselves, how free they are,” Sasikala said.
She alleged that the MLAs were complaining of threats to their family members for supporting her. “They are getting threats that their daughters will be taken away.”
She has alleged that the delay in making her the chief minister was a deliberate design to split the party.
The longtime confidante of former chief minister and party supremo, the late J Jayalalithaa, is awaiting the governor’s response to end the political stalemate.
“I lived for over 30 years with a lioness. And I have become a lioness and all of you are lions too,” she told her lawmakers. “OPS will be defeated.”
Governor C Vidyasagar Rao is yet to take a decision and speculation swirled that he might not invite Sasikala to form the government till the Supreme Court pronounced a verdict, which could come this week, in the corruption case against her.