While her swearing-in ceremony is caught in controversy, an online petition against Sasikala as Tamil Nadu chief minister on Change.org has garnered more than 1.5 lakh signatures.
The petition has been titled as “Dissolve TN govt and Stop Sasikala from becoming Tamilnadu CM !!” The online campaign further asks O Panneerselvam to continue as Tamil Nadu CM.
The massive response is sure to give jitters to Sasikala and her supporters. The petitioner Tamil Asaran PSR said “Sasikala, with many money laundering cases (against her), should not be allowed to lead an Indian state”.
The petition ‘Dissolve Tamil Nadu government and stop Sasikala from becoming Tamil Nadu CM’ has so far garnered 1,52,148 supporters. The petition will be delivered to President Pranab Mukherjee, Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao and the Chief Election Commissioner’s office.
Late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar on Tuesday said she would definitely contest election. However, she said there is no need for her to contest in the same constituency where AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala, who was elected as the leader of the legislature party, might be contesting.
She said: “It would be a sad day for democracy… It is not fair for the people of Tamil Nadu… There will be instability.”
She also said that moving court was not her primary objective.
“There are a lot of unanswered questions on Jayalalithaa’s treatment… Doctor’s press conference was staged… The press conference could have been conducted much earlier. We will announce future course of action on 24th February,” she said.
It is because of my athai, Jayalalithaa that I have come here. I want to complete the tasks left behind by her, says Deepa.
I have been raising my voice against the serious circumstances that led to my aunt’s death. Apollo clarification was not satisfactory. The timing should be looked at, she added.
Meanwhile, AIADMK leader Manoj Pandian Tuesday said Jayalalithaa never wanted Sasikala Natarajan to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
“Jayalalithaa told me once that she didn’t want Sasikala Natarajan to be the chief minister,” Manoj Pandian said.
He was joined by former AIADMK leader PH Pandian who strongly opposed the elevation of Sasikala Natarajan as the party chief and that she doesn’t have the quality to be the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
“I strongly oppose Sasikala Natarajan’s elevation,” he said.
“It’s because of blessings of late Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers Jayalalithaa and MGR that Sasikala Natarajan’s swearing-in ceremony didn’t take place.” He also demanded a probe on the reports that suggest Jayalalithaa was manhandled and pushed down before her hospitalisation.
He also expressed that he hasn’t been able to get over his sadness over the death of the former CM.
