Even as the fate of the Tamil Nadu government hangs in balance in the wake of the developments that followed the dramatic revelations of interim Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Tuesday night, the focus has turned on the number of MLAs that he and AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala have to form the next government.
Both met Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao on Thursday to stake their claim to form a new government.
Meanwhile, DMK working president M.K. Stalin has disowned deputy general secretary Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan's statement that the party would support Mr. Panneerselvam.
Here are the updates:
The Governor is inclined to wait till the Supreme Court delivers its verdict in the appeals in the disproportionate assets cases against Ms. Sasikala.
Noting that Ms Sasikala is not a member of the Legislative Assembly, the Governor has apparently been advised to consider this as a “restrictive” factor in swearing her in as Chief Minister.
Governor will safeguard democracy, tweets @AIADMKOfficial quoting Sasikala.
Madhusudhanan calls O . Panneerselvam as Nirandhandara Mudhalvar (CM forever).
O. Panneerselvam speaks to media now
"Amma built the party after MGR with her hardwork and dedication. Amma used to say "this movement will continue for 100, 1000s of years". No one can hijack the movement built by Amma, we wont allow it. No one can make it the family property. Those who want to capture the party and power, it will only be their day dream. Definitely, good things will happen."
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam speaks to the media at his residence in Chennai on Friday.
M. K. Stalin meets Governor
"Government remains paralysed for the past 9 months. We have urged the Governor to take constitutional steps to mitigate the situation." He also says that they have requested for the release of “AIADMK MLAs who are kept hostage”.
DMK working president M.K. Stalin speaks to the media after meeting Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao in Chennai on Friday.
DMK working president M.K.Stalin is set to meet Governor Vidyasagar Rao. Accompanied by senior party leaders Duraimurugan, Ponmudi A V Velu and others, he is expected to present his case before the Governor on the prevailing political situation in Tamil Nadu.
Madhusudhanan speaks to the media:
"Sasikala removed as AIADMK general secretary. There will be election to the post of general secretary of AIADMK and the cadre alone will select."
There is no question of the C ongress supporting Ms. Sasikala. Every MLA is totally tuned to public sentiment, tweeted Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday.
The Madras High Court on Frpday sought the Tamil Nadu government’s response to allegations that AIADMK MLAs were being illegally detained in a resort on the East Coast Road at Koovathur, Kancheepuram district, and 20 of them were observing a fast.
Referring to claims by counsel for habeas corpus petitioners that the 20 MLAs were on a fast in protest against their ''illegal'' detention, a Division Bench of justices C T Selvam and T Mathivanan said if true, it was a matter of serious concern, but added that the court cannot act on mere submissions of counsel.
Ministers Edappadi K. Palanisamy and C. Vijayabaskar arrive at the Golden Bay Resort, as the new AIADMK presidium chairman, K.A. Sengottaiyan, leaves it.
Altercation ensues between residents of Koovathur and AIADMK men over access to the road leading to the resort.
No police personnel are seen near the resort since noon, says Deepu Sebastian.
The Union Home Ministry says the Governor has not sent any report to it or the President on the political crisis.
Following the apprehensions raised about the fate of more than 100 AIADMK MLAs at the Madras High Court since Thursday, a batch of MLAs were brought out in a car from the resort around noon.
The MLAs, including Kattumannarkovil legislator Murugumaaran and Sholingur MLA Parthiban told journalists that they were staying at the resort on their own will. After the brief interaction with the media, the MLAs go back to the resort.
AIADMK's new presidium chairman K. A. Sengottaiyan goes to the reosrt to meet the MLAs lodged there.
The Governor holds discussions with Chief Secretary Girija Vaidhyanathan, Director-General of Police T K Rajendran and Commissioner of Police S George at the Raj Bhavan.
Former Minister S.P. Shunmuganathan lodges a complaint, alleging that he was able to somehow escape from virtual confinement. The other MLAs are still in illegal detention and confinement under the instructions of Ms. Sasikala, he says.
Ther AIADMK announces the expulsion of party presidium chairman Madhusudhanan and the appointment of Sengottayan in his place.
Mr. Madhusudhanan says no one in the AIADMK has competence to sack him from the post of presidium chairman. "No one has the powers to do it. I have been in the AIADMK from the beginning and gone to jail for the sake of the party."
Three MLAs supporting Ms. Sasikala say they are not at the resort against their will.
Former MP Elangovan and former Cuddalore MLA Ayyappan extend their support to Mr. Panneerselvam.
Mr. Madhusudhanan says Ms. Sasikala lacks qualification to be the general secretary of the AIADMK. He has written to the Election Commission that her appointment as interim general secretary is invalid as she is not a member of the party for five continuous years, as required by the party constitution.
Former Minister Nainar Nagendran says Mr. Panneerselvam has betrayed the party.
Mr. Madhusudhanan speaks about the apology letter Ms. Sasikala wrote to former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
AIADMK spokesperson C.R. Saraswathi says, "In the AIADMK's history, never has the DMK supported us. Now, they have. It shows that they are behind all this."
The Sasikala camp on Friday kept up its attack on Mr. Panneerselvam, saying Jayalalithaa’s “soul will not forgive” him for trying to split the party, and asserted that Ms. Sasikala will be soon sworn in as chief minister.
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With no sign of a swearing-in ceremony, security is being withdrawn from the University of Madras Centenary Auditorium. Ms. Sasikala had planned to hold her swearing-in ceremony here.
Former Minister B. Valarmathi reiterates that it is false that Mr. Panneerselvam was forced to resign. "All MLAs have their phones switched on. No one is being held captive," she says.
In a complete turnaround from his statement before the Madras High Court on Thursday, prosecutor V.M. Rajendran informsthe court on Friday that he is taking back his submission."'The MLAs are not in illegal custody but I need time to get instructions about their actual whereabouts," he says.
Former Kanyakumari MLA Muthukrishnan extends his support to Mr. Panneerselvam and sends his representative to meet the Chief Minister.
12.10 p.m.
The Chief Secretary, the DGP and the Commissioner of Police meet the Governor at the Raj Bhavan.
