Here's the latest on the power struggle in the AIADMK between the O. Panneerselvam and V.K. Sasikala factions:
DMK working president M.K. Stalin condemns the attack on the media persons in Kuvathur in his tweets.
"In the prevailing of law and order crisis, the attack on the media persons is strongly condemned," he tweets.
"Even after the Governor's discussion with the high-ranking police officials regarding the law and order situation, why is it there is no action against such violence?" he questions.
AIADMK general secretary Sasikala Natarajan reaches Veda Nilayam after her press meet, along with her supporting MLAs, in Kuvathur.
Mr. Panneerselvam is addressing supporters at his residence after Ms. Sasikala’s Kuvathur pressmeet.
He says AIADMK MLAs should adhere to opinion from their constituents. He also alleged that the MLAs are being tortured.
“The whole world is seeing the uprising in TN,” Mr. Panneerselvam says. "I didn’t woo any MLA. They are coming on their own."
As he was speaking, news comes in that Theni MP R. Parthiban has joined the OPS camp, takes the total number of MPs in his side to 11.
Interestingly, Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pushpa is not counted among supporters even though she was the first high ranking party cadre to voice happiness at Mr. Panneerselvam’s revolt.
Mr. Panneerselvam also assures media of action against goons who attacked them at Kuvathur.
“I m in touch with officials. Administration is working well," he says adding he will will go to the Secretariat tomorrow.
Finally media has been let inside the Golden Bay Resorts for a press conference with Ms. Sasikala.
She says MLAs are not held captive. Tells the media that they are free take a head count of MLAs, adding, MLAs of her camp are steadfast in their support despite facing threats (from the opposite camp).
“You know the power that is behind the rebels. You are all intelligent. Isn't it?” says Ms. Sasikala. “You will also see our next course of action. You are also here. Wait and see,” she adds.
“Governor has denied sending any report to the Centre. We know who is leaking information. They are doing this to split us. Our MLAs are very well aware of this,” she says.
AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala speaks to the media at Kuvathur on Sunday after meeting party MLAs.
Residents join media persons to block the road leading to Golden Bay Resorts, reports our correspondent Udhav Naig from Kuvathur. When asked to leave, some of the residents have refused saying they might be attacked later.
Former Uthiramerur MLA P. Ganesan (second from right) comes out of the Golden Bay Resorts to hold talks with the protesting media persons and residents in Kuvathur on Sunday.
Media persons hold a dharna near Golden Bay Resorts in Kuvathur saying that they were prevented by police and private securitymen from entering the resort to meet MLAs. Vedarathinam, a police official, however tells our correspondent Udhav Naig that “MLAs don't wish to speak to the press and Golden Bay resorts is a private property”.
Ms. Sasikala arrives at Golden Bay Resorts in Kuvathur to meet AIADMK MLAs, her second visit in as many days. Vedaranyam MLA O.S. Manian of the Sasikala faction says she is in Kuvathur to “train and motivate” the MLAs. "Is it wrong," he asks.
Mr. Manian also says the question of not forming government doesn't rise at all as they have 127 MLAs. "We hope the Governor will invite us," he says.
AIADMK MLAs awaiting the arrival of party general secretary V.K. Sasikala in Kuvathur on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Education Minister K Pandiarajan says he's met Mylapore MLA Nataraj. He says he's hopeful that Mr. Natraj, who has taken a neutral position, will take a "positive decision."
Sasikala to meet MLAs in Kuvathur
Sunitha Sekar reports:
AIADMK general secretary Sasikala Natarajan says that the party believes in democracy. "It is well known who is behind all these issues and you'll know why MPs are going there [OPS's camp]." She's speaking to reporters at Poes Garden ahead of leaving to Kuvathur to meet the MLAs.
"I have witnessed similar scenes after MGR's death too. After Ms. Jayalalithaa took over, she worked hard and nothing can break our party. Such a negative campaign is not new for us," she says.
AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala heads to Koovathur.
She displays a copy of a letter that was circulated on social media that says she will give up life. "This [the letter] is not true," she says.
She claims that it is conspiracy to divide the party. "It's difficult for a woman to survive in politics. I've seen this from Amma's [Jayalalithaa] times."
According to Vedaranyam MLA O.S. Manian, the party general secretary is visiting the MLAs for the second consecutive day to "motivate them."
Talking to reporters, the Vedaranyam MLA says that the party general secretary spoke to the MLAs yesterday for nearly 60 minutes.
She will be calling on them soon to "train them on how to maintain unity in order to save the Amma government", he adds.
AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala speaks to the media in Chennai on Sunday before leaving to meet party MLAs staying at Kuvathur.
'Ready to prove our strength'
AIADMK MP Vaithilingam says, "The governor should invite general secretary Sasikala to form the government soon. She has the majority. The next course of action will be decided this afternoon."
Another supporter of Ms. Sasikala, Andipatti MLA Thanga Thamizh Selvan says the AIADMK General Secretary enjoys the support of 128 MLAs. Disclosing this to reporters at Koovathur, the Andipatti MLA says their camp was confident of proving their strength.
"We are ready to parade the MLAs before the Governor, the President or anybody."
Rajya Sabha MP Lakshmanan and Villupuram Lok Sabha MP Rajendran went to caretaker Chief Minister Panneerselvam's house and extended their support. With these two, the number of MPs who are supporting Mr. Panneerselvam has gone up to 10.
The former hockey captain and Arjuna awardee Baskaran who led India to Moscow Olympic gold, on Sunday, extended his support to caretaker Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam.
Rajya Sabha MP Lakshmanan has been removed from the party position. He was the Villupuram north district secretary. Minister C.Ve. Shanmugham will now be replacing him as the new Villupuram north district secretary.
Why is it that till now Sasikala has restrained from expelling the MPs and MLAs who has sided with OPS from the party?
In his twitter page, the BJP leader and MP Subramanian Swamy said the Tamil Nadu Governor must decide on the CM issue by tomorrow, otherwise a "WP under Art 32 of the Constitution can be filed charging abetment of horse trading."
(An earlier update wrongly mentioned that Mr. Swamy will file a case against the Governor. The error is regretted.)
On the other side, the DMK high level committee to meet on Monday evening to discuss political situation in Tamil Nadu. The high-level committee meeting will be presided by the working president M.K. Stalin.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief Tamizhisai Soundararajan says, "The Governor is not delaying, but wants to take a firm decision," adding that "One cannot compel the Governor in taking a decision."
DMDK founder Vijaykant says there is no need for President's rule in Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Vijaykant quips, "Temporary Governor=Temporary Government". Asked for his reaction to the rapidly unfolding events in the State political scene Mr. Vijaykant said he did not want to comment on the internal affairs of the AIADMK. He said he would talk about people's issues only.
Turning the tables on the media he asked why the media was highlighting the political issues instead of focusing on the delta crisis due to which many farmers "are dying daily".
Dilip Ramachandran, a relative of former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran's wife Janaki extended his support and presented a shawl to Mr. Panneerselvam, said an announcement by former Minister K P Munusamy.
Former Fisheries Minister K.A. Jayapal, former Khadi Minister Poonatchi switched sides and extended support to Mr. Panneerselvam. They presented shawls to him at his residence at Greenways Road, in Chennai.
Cinema actors like Ramarajan, Thyagu went to Mr. Panneerselvam house and extended support to him. On Saturday, directors Bala and Bhagyaraj extended their support.
In another turn of events, one more AIADMK MP from Perambalur Marutharaja extended support to caretaker Chief Minister O. Panneeerselvam. Besides the MP, former Erode Mayor Mallika extended her support to OPS.
A AIADMK supporter shows a victory sign outside the caretaker Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam's house in Chennai on Sunday.
A AIADMK supporter shows a victory sign outside the caretaker Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam's house in Chennai on Sunday.
Two AIADMK MPs extend support to OPS
The AIADMK internal feud took further interesting turns when two more AIADMK MPs switched sides and extended support to caretaker Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. The two MPs are Senguttuvan from Vellore and Jayasingh of Thoothukudi.
In a dramatic turn to the ongoing political turmoil in Tamil Nadu, two prominent members from AIADMK interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala’s camp — Education Minister K. Pandiarajan and party spokesperson C. Ponnaiyan — switched sides on Saturday to join Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, citing a groundswell of support for the latter. In a further boost to the rebel camp, four MPs — P.R. Sundaram from Namakkal, K. Ashok Kumar from Krishnagiri, R. Vanaroja from Tiruvannamalai and V. Sathyabhama from Tiruppur — also came out in support of Mr. Panneerselvam.
A 67-year-old retired BHEL employee has filed a complaint with the Papanasam police seeking to rescue the constituency MLA and Agriculture Minister R. Duraikannu from the “clutches of Sasikala and her family”.
