Panneerselvam revolts against Sasikala, says was insulted, forced to resign as Tamil Nadu CM

Chennai: Openly rebelling against Jayalalithaa's close aide and AIADMK general secretary Sasikala, caretaker Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said on Tuesday that he was continuously humiliated and forced to resign from his post.

At the same time, he hinted that he may withdraw his resignation if people of Tamil Nadu and party cadres so desired.

He made the comments after praying for about 40 minutes at Jayalalithaa's memorial at Marina Beach tonight.

Here's what Panneerselvam said:

"I came to Amma's (Jayalalithaa) memorial and sat silently in meditation, to search my conscience. Amma's spirit asked me to reveal some truth to the people of Tamil Nadu," he said talking to journalists and added, "When she was alive, Amma  called me and said 'pick someone the people will accept'." 

He said almost 70 days after Jayalalithaa was in Apollo hospital, Sasikala had discussions with him about how to run the party and the government if something untoward happened to the former CM of Tamil Nadu.

Panneerselvam said that he felt distressed and had asked Sasikala, also known as 'Chinamma', what was the need to discuss these issues.

"When Amma was in the hospital and her health was not good, I was told we have the responsibility to save the party and government. I was first told Madhusudhanan should take over as general secretary. I didn't accept it. I opposed it," he said.

He added that all senior ministers told him that Sasikala should be made general secretary. "We all went and asked Chinnamma to take the post of general secretary and she agreed," he said.

"I told them I was happy to have stepped aside for Amma when she was alive. I told them they can appoint whoever they want. I accepted the post only after they told me if I don't accept it, it will bring disrepute to the party," he pointed out.

Talking about the sequence of events Panneerselvam said, "I worked with utmost dedication to fulfill Amma's dreams. After two or three days, health minister Vijay Bhaskar came to me and said Divakaran, Sasikala's relative, had told him to convey that 'you all have become ministers so we are all going back to our town. Let anything happen we are not bothered'."

"It was then that Vardah cyclone came, it was set right in four days. It was done as Amma wished. We also had water scarcity problem. We knew that AP had water. We met N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh CM) to get some water. He immediately gave it," he went on to say.

"Next came Jallikattu. I met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and explained the situation. While I was meeting PM, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai took 50 MPs and came to meet the PM. The PMO expressed surprise about the demand because the CM had also sought time and both were to discuss same issue," Panneerselvam revealed.

"Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar said Sasikala should take over as chief minister, when I was the CM. While I was doing my duty, Revenue Minister gave an interview to media that Chinnamma should be CM. I told Sasikala that is it fair and just that a minister who is appointed by me should say that someone else should become chief minister. If at that time, the Governor asked me to prove majority what will happen. Then I was told that minister has been spoken to and told to correct himself," he further said. 

"Another leader Sengottaiyan also gave a similar statement. Another minister Sellur Raju condemned Udayakumar's statement but went to Madurai the same day and made a similar statement," he said.

Panneerselvam told journalists that he then met his Cabinet colleagues and told them that the party's senior ministers should play a responsible role.

"It is in these circumstances, the legislature party meeting was called on Sunday about which I had no idea. I was informed that Sasikala should take over as CM. When I asked what is the necessity, they told me one person should have both posts. Why did they make me CM to humiliate me. I was given the CM post but insulted continuously. I have been told to be patient. I am patient only, always have been. The entire country is shocked with the way the party is running," he lamented. 

"Amma's soul told me to inform this to the people of the state," Panneerselvam said in the end. 

Also Read - Nobody can stop 'Chinamma' Sasikala from becoming Tamil Nadu CM: AIADMK

Just after his revolt, Pannerselvam was removed from the post of AIADMK's treasurer and Dindigul Sreenivasan was appointed in his place.

Reacting to the development, Sasikala Pushpa, expelled AIADMK MP, said, "welcome this step, very happy. Truth never fails."

Earlier today, she had demanded that Sasikala should be prevented from occupying the CM's post and had sought immediate intervention of PM Modi to "give hope" to people of the state.

"How can people accept Sasikala as CM? An educated (person) should rule the state," she said, adding the state's image will take a beating if she became the CM," Pushpa had told reporters in the national capital, as per PTI.

Pushpa also said she had recently filed a complaint with the Election Commission contending that the election of Sasikala as AIADMK general secretary was not conducted as per procedure.

On the other hand, Opposition DMK's MK Stalin said, "Sasikala Natarajan didn't allow CM Pannerselvam to work freely, this is what DMK has been telling and same has been said by OPS."

"Person who has been administered oath of office by Governor was threatened to tender resignation.Those who did this deserve strict action. Because there is a situation where there is no government in existence, Governor must take steps to establish a stable government," he added.

Today a senior AIADMK leader and former Speaker of the state Assembly PH Pandian had also raised the banner of revolt against Sasikala.

"Sasikala does not deserve to be either the party supremo or the CM," Pandian had told reporters in Chennai.

Strongly opposing her elevation as AIADMK chief, Pandian had said it was against party rules.

"Only cadres can elect the general secretary," he had said.

Later, the AIADMK fielded two of its top leaders Panruti Ramachandran and KA Sengottaiyan at a press conference where they rejected Pandian's allegations and dubbed him as a 'betrayer' who was causing 'confusion'.

"General secretary in-charge can be appointed," Ramachandran asserted, stating that Sasikala's elevation was in compliance with party rules and that it was valid.

"The constitutional obligation of the Governor is to swear in Sasikala. There is no ground for stopping it. Nobody can stop it," Ramachandran, who was a minister in the first MGR cabinet, said.

Meanwhile, ANI quoted sources as saying that Tamil Nadu Governor will not go to Chennai tomorrow and Panneerselvam will remain interim CM until he examines legal implications regarding Sasikala's appointment.

When Panneerselvam resigned and Sasikala was elected AIADMK Legislature Party leader:

Panneerselvam had rendered his resignation on February 05 as Tamil Nadu CM citing 'personal reasons', setting the stage for takeover of Sasikala, who was unanimously elected as legislature party leader earlier that day, as chief minister of state.

"Due to my personal reasons, I am tendering my resignation from the post of CM of Tamil Nadu. Kindly accept my resignation and relieve the Council of Ministers of Tamil Nadu appointed by me on December 6, 2016," he had said in a letter addressed to Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao.

In a separate but near-identical letter, Panneerselvam had thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Governor Rao for all the support and cooperation extended by them during his term.

Interestingly, the name of 62-year-old Sasikala as AIADMK legislature party leader was proposed by Panneerselvam himself at a meeting of party MLAs at the party headquarters.

"It was Panneerselvam who had first persuaded me to become the CM and general secretary as well when Jayalalithaa passed away," Sasikala had told party legislators in her acceptance speech.

She had said that the development had come "shattering the expectation of our political opponents that there will be a split in the party after the demise of our Amma (Jayalalithaa)."

Sasikala had a special word of praise for Panneerselvam and had stated, "whenever the party faced tough times and whenever there were difficulties in Amma becoming the CM, it was our dear brother Panneerselvam who has been loyal."

Panneerselvam was appointed as Chief Minister on the night of December 5 within hours of the death of Jayalalithaa.

Panneerselvam was the stop gap CM twice, first time when Jayalalithaa was unseated following a Supreme Court order in 2001 and when she was convicted in a disproportionate assets case in 2014.

When Jayalalithaa was at the helm, Sasikala was considered to yield a huge clout behind the scenes.

The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its verdict in the disproportionate assets case against Sasikala and others next week.

(With Agency inputs)