MKMK Chief Vaiko in Chennai
MDMK leader Vaiko has accused Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam of "belittling his office" and asked why he does not use the chief minister's chamber in Fort St George in Chennai or have a nameplate outside his office that announces his designation.
"Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam does not work as a Chief Minister. He does not use the Chief Minister's chamber, there's not even a name board. Chief Minister is a statutorily recognised post, but its not happening here," said Mr Vaiko, whose party is a partner of the BJP in the ruling NDA.
Mr Panneerselvam's party, the AIADMK, has called Mr Vaiko's attack an "exaggeration." The ruling party said the new CM simply prefers his old office and does not want to use a CM nameplate.
O Panneerselvam, an old loyalist of AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, was handpicked by her to replace her as chief minister when she had to step down in September after being convicted by a Bangalore court in a corruption case. She spent 21 days in jail before being granted bail by the Supreme Court.
Mr Paneerselvam, 63, had wept as he took oath of office as chief minister. He was Ms Jayalalithaa's choice to replace her for a second time. He served as chief minister in 2000 too, when Ms Jayalalithaa had to step down after being convicted in another case. He was in office for six months, till Mr Jayalalithaa was acquitted by a higher court.
Ms Jayalalithaa, who had swept into power with an emphatic mandate in 2011 is debarred from contesting elections, unless her conviction is set aside by a higher court.