AIADMK’s Thambidurai dismisses Panneerselvam’s claim about resignation

AIADMK leader and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai on Tuesday dismissed O Panneerselvam’s claim that he was forced to resign as chief minister.

AIADMK leader and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai on Tuesday dismissed O Panneerselvam’s claim that he was forced to resign as chief minister and insisted party chief VK Sasikala would become the chief minister as all the legislators were behind ‘Chinnamma’.

AIADMK leader M Thambidurai has said that the party will continue its rule in Tamil Nadu for the remaining four-and-a-half years. (ANI)

Emerging from the Poes Garden residence of Sasikala late at night, he asked “do you believe he was coerced, forced to resign?” and dismissed Panneerselvam’s claims, saying “do we need such a Chief Minister?”

“All the MLAs are united...All the legislators are inside (pointing to the Poes Garden residence),” he said, adding in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK will continue its rule for the remaining four-and-a-half years.

He said “be it (the upcoming) civic poll or Parliamentary elections, we will win all under the leadership of Chinnamma.”

The AIADMK propaganda secretary also claimed “Panneerselvam is instable.”

State minister C Ve Shanmugam called Panneerselvam “a betrayer”.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, Panneerselvam had raised the banner of revolt against Sasikala, saying he was forced to resign from his post and asserted that only a person desired by both the people and cadres should succeed him in the government and take charge of the party.

Soon after breaking a 40-minute long meditation in front of the burial site of late Jayalalithaa at Chenai’s Marina beach , around 10 pm, he said he was insulted and forced to resign to pave the way for elevation of Sasikala as chief minister.

Panneerselvam said he was told he should quit as CM to protect the party’s discipline and that if he did not do so, it would be a violation of party discipline.

No answer was forthcoming to his query to the need for him to resign, he said, adding he was not even given a chance to go to Jayalalithaa’s burial site and told he could do so later.

He had also said that if the people and party cadres so wished, he might withdraw his resignation.