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Sasikala convicted, Panneerselvam expelled from AIADMK: All that happened in a day
AIADMK’s leadership tussle reached a frenzy on Tuesday after the Supreme Court convicted late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa’s aide VK Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case.
AIADMK’s leadership tussle reached a frenzy on Tuesday after the Supreme Court convicted late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa’s aide VK Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case, potentially paving the way for a the governor to call a floor test.
As the supporters of the rival camp hailed the verdict, Sasikala expelled caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam and rebel MLAs from the party on Tuesday as both sides staked claim to form the Tamil Nadu government.
Sasikala also nominated Edappadi Palaniswami as the AIADMK legislative party chief after announcement of the SC order, which disqualifies her from the CM’s post for 10 years.
Here’s how the day panned out:
9.30 pm: Sasikala returns from Golden Bay Resorts to Poes Gardens
10 pm: Pannerselvam along with Deepa, niece of Jayalalithaa and a host of followers, comes to Marina Beach to pay floral tributes to Jayalalithaa at her samadhi.
9 am: Tamil Nadu police rushes more Rapid Action Force personnel, buses to Kuvatthur resort
10 am: Two more mlas reach OPS residence and support, total to 11
10.36 am: SC delivers verdict convicting Sasikala and others
10.40 am: A crest-fallen Sasikala closeted with lawyers
10.45 am: Celebrations outside residence of OPS, he speaks to media.
11 am: Sasikala chairs meeting of MLAs
12.38 pm: E Palanaiswamy elected leader of AIADMK legislature party
2 pm: State education minister M Foi Pandiarajan leaves for Golden Bay resort to talk to MLAs there.
2.30 pm: Sasikala removes OPS, Pandiarajan and 17 other AIADMK leaders from primary membership of the party
3.12 pm: OPS camp rejects Palaniswami’s election as legislature party leader
3.30 pm: Section 144 imposed at Kuvatthur resort area. Education minister and his entourage stopped from going to the resort
4.30 pm: Sasikala’s legal team attempts to buy time by filing a petition before the Supreme Court seeking four weeks’ time to surrender on “health grounds.”
5.40 pm: Edapaddi Palaniswamy calls on governor, stakes claim to form government
6.20 pm: OPS camp claims it has majority. OPS plans to meet governor later in the day
6.40 pm: Police stationed at Koovathur resort receive directions to begin evacuating MLAs from Golden Bay. DGP Rajendran to take final call.
6.55 pm: Palanisamy reaches Golden Bay Resort.
7 pm: OPS camp reaches Raj Bhavan, speaks to Governor Rao
7.30 pm: DGP Rajendran and Chennai commissioner S George reach Raj Bhavan, discuss law and order situation with governor.
