Sasikala: OPS asked to go for hobnobbing with DMK
Chennai, February 13
Suggesting that O Panneerselvam did not resign on his own, AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala today said the Chief Minister was asked to go because he “hobnobbed” with the party’s arch rival DMK.
Recalling the circumstances under which he was asked to resign on February 5, she claimed Panneerselvam “pushed us to do that and we did not do it on our own. This is what had happened”.
Speaking to party workers at the Poes Garden residence of late Jayalalithaa, she said: “I would have allowed him, as I did not aspire to become CM and that is the truth.”
After he put in his papers on February 5, Panneerselvam initially maintained he had resigned due to “personal reasons”. He had also proposed the name of Sasikala for the top post. Two days later, Panneerselvam revolted against the party leadership saying he was forced to resign on the ground that he should follow party discipline.
Sasikala today said: “They (DMK) had thought that if possible, let Panneerselvam split up and bring with him some legislators and with 89 MLAs (of DMK), a government could be formed.”
She said the Chief Minister did not comment when DMK Deputy Leader in Assembly Duraimurugan last week said his party would support him.
Since Panneerselvam did not reject DMK’s support, Sasikala said, she “understood” that Karunanidhi-led party was “instigating” him.
Duraimurugan had told Panneerselvam “you be the Chief Minsiter for five years, our support will be there for you.”
“He should have told Duraimurugan that he does not need their support when the AIADMK has a majority,” Sasikala maintained.
“Had Panneerselvam said that, I would have let him stay.”
“We decided to take a decision soon and it was Panneerselvam who pushed us to do that and we did not do it on our own and this is what had happened,” she said.
Sasikala said she was never hankering after the office of Chief Minister and “at that time of grief (after Jayalalithaa’s demise) the office of chief minister did not appear big to me”.
Panneerselvam, an ordinary man from small town Periyakulam, was groomed by Amma but “is trying to divide, and rule, this party without any gratitude”, she alleged, adding he “demonstrated that he has not been loyal to the party”.
“We have seen a thousand Panneerselvams before getting on to this stage and struggles are like dust on my hand and I am not worried,” she said.
“We will form the government and inaugurate a portrait of Amma in the Assembly,” she said. — PTI
Bq
“We have seen a thousand Panneerselvams before getting on to this stage and struggles are like dust on my hand and I am not worried,”
— VK Sasikala, AIADMK general secretary
