Tamil Nadu crisis: SC to examine trust vote won by CM Palaniswami

The Supreme Court will examine if the trust vote won by the Tamil Nadu chief minister E Palaniswami was valid, signalling fresh trouble for the state government

The Supreme Court will examine if the trust vote won by the Tamil Nadu chief minister E Palaniswami was valid, signalling fresh trouble for the state government hurtling from one crisis to another after the death of J Jayalalithaa.

Tamil Nadu chief minister 'Edappadi' K Palaniswami along with ministers during the swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan in Chennai on Thursday. (PTI Photo)

The Supreme Court was on Wednesday hearing a petition by the rival camp calling for a fresh vote of confidence by a secret ballot in the presence of a court observer.

Tamil Nadu was plunged into political uncertainty after chief minister and AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa died on December 5.

A Jayalalithaa loyalist, O Panneerselvam, was appointed the caretaker chief minister but was allegedly forced to resign by VK Sasikala , a long time confidante of the late chief minister.

Sasikala’s march to the state’s top job was dealt a blow when she was found guilty in a corruption case and sent to jail. Saiskala propped up Palaniswami as the chief minister before going to the jail.

The camp led by Panneerselvam challenged the trust vote in the Supreme Court, which will now hear the case on July 11.