Mr. Panneerselvam strode into the Tamil Nadu Assembly carrying a briefcase bulging with budget papers but plastered with a picture of Ms. Jayalalithaa.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi today slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for what he calls violating the oath of secrecy.
On Wednesday, in his budget presentation in the state assembly, Mr Panneerselvam has said the statement was guided by his party chief and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, who was found guilty in the 66 crores disproportionate assets case. Mr Panneerselvam had walked into the Tamil Nadu Assembly carrying a briefcase plastered with a picture of Ms Jayalalithaa.
"The budget has to be prepared in secrecy. Can a state budget be prepared under the guidance of a convicted person?" Mr Karunanidhi asked today.
Mr Karunanidhi pointed out that during the hearing of Ms Jayalalithaa's bail plea, her lawyer, Fali Nariman, had assured the Supreme Court that no impression would be created to suggest that the AIADMK chief was guiding the Tamil Nadu government.
"The Supreme Court that granted her bail and lawyers should decide on this now," Mr Karunanidhi said.
The DMK chief added that even the website of the state information department shows Ms Jayalalithaa as chief minister. The website shows Chief Minister Panneerselvam as Finance Minister, the portfolio he held in Ms Jayalalithaa's cabinet before she was found guilty.
The former Finance Minister also continues to work from his old office without any updated signboards of his title.