News

Tamil Nadu : Judicial inquiry into Jayalalithaa's death, Paneerselvam says

by India Blooms News Service 07 Feb 2017, 08:58 pm

Chennai, Feb 7 (IBNS) : The rumblings within the ruling AIADMK turned into a roar as Tamil Nadu's caretaker Chief Minister O Paneerselvam on Wednesday said that a judicial inquiry will be instituted into Jayalalithaa's death and accused VK Sasikala, the aspiring CM, of coercing him to resign from his post.

His statement came  before Sasikala, once the closest aide of late CM Jayalalithaa, takes oath as Chief Minister.

The bitter slugfest within the party became pronounced a day after former Speaker and senior AIADMK leader PH Pandian alleged that Jayalalithaa's death was unnatural, making insinuation of a foul play by Sasikala, whose sudden rise in the party is being opposed by many AIADMK leaders.

Reiterating that he would prove his majority in the Assembly by taking a trust vote, Paneerselvam  appealed to all MLAs that they should take a "firm decision taking into account the feelings of the people in their constituencies."

On the other hand, Sasikala, 61, who never had much of political exposure, except playing the back seat operator as Jayalalithaa's right hand person, is meeting AIADMK lawmakers at  the party office.

On Tuesday, the AIADMK said that  Sasikala will be sworn-in as the state's Chief Minister by Thursday. .

TN Governor Vidyasagar Rao reportedly consulted legal experts on whether such an oath-taking ceremony should be held at all as a plea was filed in the Supreme Court against her

Sasikala's  camp claims that out of the  party's 134 lawmakers, about 100 are on her side. She is likely to address the media later on Wednesday.

Earlier, while addressing the media, Panneerselvam said that he was being pressurised by Sasikala and her aides and is willing to stay as the Chief Minister if his party wants.