VK Sasikala said O Panneerselvam had urged her to take control of AIADMK and the Tamil Nadu government.
Highlights
- Sasikala claims Panneerselvam urged her to take charge of party and state
- She says she was in too much 'pain' after Jayalalithaa's death to do so
- Panneerselvam says Sasikala forced him to step down as Chief Minister
VK Sasikala, urging an immediate invitation from Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to take charge as Chief Minister in place of O Panneerselvam, declared today to a large crowd of supporters in Chennai, "We have seen 1,000 such Panneerselvams....I am not scared."
Infusing her speech generously with references to former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, she said, "I was with Amma for more than 30 years and I am used to threats. I used to help her in party work regarding speeches, I never thought of promoting myself. My only concern was that her government should continue."
The 61-year-old was addressing supporters at the Poes Garden home that she shared with Ms Jayalalithaa for decades and where she continues to live. Her challenger Mr Panneerselvam, who says he deserves to remain Chief Minister and was forced to quit last week, went to his office for the first time in seven days.
Ms Sasikala said it was she who urged Mr Panneerselvam to become Chief Minister after Ms Jayalalithaa's death in December, even though he begged her to take charge.
"When I was in so pain, for the party's future I stood firm on my stand. All of you must know what the truth is," she said.
Yesterday, Ms Sasikala went twice to the five-star Golden Bay resort near Chennai, the luxurious hideout of AIADMK lawmakers who have pledged support to her after Mr Panneerselvam's revolt. The resort has been blocked to the public and the media but Ms Sasikala has denied holding lawmakers hostage in an extreme measure to check defection.
The Chennai police also told a court that around 120 lawmakers are at the resort and no one has alleged that they are being forcibly held.
Dismissing Mr Panneerselvam, who says he can prove that there is more support for him within the ruling party, Ms Sasikala said,
A dozen parliamentarians and six lawmakers have joined Mr Panneerselvam but a majority is still with Ms Sasikala.