VK Sasikala hit out at party rebel O Panneerselvam calling him a "traitor" (File)
In an hour-long speech, punctuated with the applause of 131 of the AIADMK's 134 legislators, VK Sasikala today condemned O Panneerselvam as a traitor and alleged that he is conspiring with arch rival DMK to split his party and destabilise the party. "Betrayal will not be tolerated," Ms Sasikala warned, speaking at the AIADMK headquarter in Chennai.
It was another big show of strength, the third since Mr Panneerselvam revolted last night alleging that he had been forced to resign as chief minister to clear the way for Ms Sasikala's takeover.
"Nobody has the power to split or divide the AIADMK," Ms Sasikala said, accusing Mr Panneerselvam of betraying not only the party, but also Amma or J Jayalalithaa by "playing the dirty game of the party she fought against".
"There was a conspiracy to divide the party... This is a naked attempt by DMK to break this party. I will not let that happen. With this I hope all of you who loved Amma will be with me," said Ms Sasikala, stating that it was her duty as general secretary of the AIADMK to end what she called the wrongdoings by Mr Panneerselvam.
J Jayalalithaa's companion of three decades said the party had asked her to be chief minister immediately after her death, but "I couldn't take the responsibility then as I was very sad."
Last night, Mr Panneerselvam meditated with his eyes closed at Jayalalithaa's memorial at Chennai's Marina Beach, before declaring Ms Sasikala's claim to the state's top post as invalid because, he claimed, "Amma" had wanted him to be chief minister after her.
Mr Panneerselvam had taken oath as chief minster hours after Ms Jayalalithaa died on December 5, in a move said to have been designed by Ms Sasikala, who was appointed party chief by the end of that month. On Sunday, Mr Panneerselvam resigned to make way for Ms Sasikala to be chief minister too. He has been asked by the state governor to hold charge till Ms Sasikala is sworn in.
But on Tuesday night Mr Panneerselvam said he would be happy to withdraw his resignation if the AIADMK cadre indicated that it wanted him to stay. The appeal has not drawn much support, with only three party legislators said to be supporting him so far. But the party's Rajya Sabha MP Dr V Maitreyan said he expects "the tide to turn in favour of OPS" or Mr Pannerselvam, who is also counting on a wave of public opinion against Ms Sasikala, who has no administrative or political experience.
Ms Sasikala's swearing in has been delayed by the unavailability of Governor C Vidyasagar Rao who has not returned to Chennai since she was picked by her party to become Chief Minister.