O Panneerselvam has said he was forced to resign from the Chief Minister's post by VK Sasikala.
Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao will return to Chennai tomorrow, where he will meet VK Sasikala and her supporters. The state's ruling AIADMK had threatened to complain to President Pranab Mukherjee that the Governor has delayed her oath ceremony by staying away since Sunday and late on Wednesday evening, a group of 9 legislators, led by senior party leader and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, left for Delhi. The delay, the party contends, has led to a gap in leadership days after Mr Panneerselvam's resignation was accepted by the Governor.
Mr Rao, who has additional charge of Maharashtra, attended a convocation in Mumbai this evening after a day of speculation over whether he would show up in the Tamil Nadu capital. In his address, he referred to the "lot of political developments" in Tamil Nadu, saying, "The moment you switch on television, Tamil Nadu news is coming and various debates are going on. Now and then they say where is the Governor of Tamil Nadu? And I'm happy to be here with you amidst Nobel laureates. "
Though the AIADMK wanted the Governor to drop everything and make a dash to Chennai, Mr Rao is apparently not inclined to take any rushed step.
Deferring a decision may be the right option for now, says Soli Sorabjee, former Attorney General of India.
"In an extraordinary situation the governor can exert his discretion. The governor can defer the swearing in given the circumstances," Mr Sorabjee told NDTV.
Last night, Mr Panneerselvam, a sworn J Jayalalithaa loyalist who took over as Chief Minister after her death in December, declared that he was forced to resign by Ms Sasikala and that he was ready to face a floor test; the option, says Mr Sorabjee, is no longer open to him after his resignation.
Mr Panneerselvam's supporters, however, suggest that the governor should factor in his claim that he was forced to quit.
After the AIADMK decided this weekend to promote Ms Sasikala or "Chinamma" as she is known in the party, the governor sought legal advice on whether she could take charge just before the Supreme Court is to decide whether she is guilty of amassing a fortune, along with former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, far exceeding their known sources of income.
Mr Sorabjee suggests that the governor should wait, but another senior lawyer, Rakesh Dwiwedi, says Ms Sasikala appears to have the majority. "Whether the Supreme Court delivers a verdict is not the Governor's business. If the verdict goes against Sasikala then se will have to resign," he said.