Sasikala row: AIADMK terms PH Pandian a 'betrayer', says he's causing confusion in party

Chennai: The AIADMK on Tuesday said it was the constitutional obligation of the Governor to swear-in Sasikala as chief minister and there is no ground for stopping it even as it rejected former Speaker P H Pandian’s allegations of foul play in J Jayalalithaa’s death. [caption id=“attachment_3266244” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] VK Sasikala with AIADMK members.[/caption] Addressing a press conference hours after Pandian questioned Sasikala’s election as party chief and Legislature Party Leader paving the way for her becoming chief minister, the party hit back, dubbing him a “betrayer who joined the ranks of detractors and causing confusion.” “General Secretary in-charge can be appointed,” senior AIADMK leader Panruti Ramachandran asserted, stating that Sasikala’s elevation was in compliance with party rules and that it was valid. “The constitutional obligation of the Governor is to swear in Sasikala. There is no ground for stopping it. Nobody can stop it,” Ramachandran, who was a minister in the first MGR cabinet, said. Asked about a PIL opposing swearing-in of Sasikala as chief minister, he said the court can dismiss the petition, saying it cannot interfere in the governor’s duty. “We decided on Sunday (to elect her as legislature party leader). The petition came to Supreme Court on Monday”. The press conference at the party headquarters was called to dispel rumours and wrong stories circulating about Jayalalithaa’s death especially in the wake of media interaction of Pandian and his son, who was also a minister in Jayalalithaa’s cabinet. Pandian and his son Manoj had earlier alleged that Sasikala’s elevation was against party norms. Sengottaiyan, who was appointed organisation secretary on 3 February, said despite Pandian’s five family members being given party positions years ago which could not be seen in any other party, he has joined “detractors and was causing confusion.” He said AIADMK is a “fort” which cannot be shaken by such people. To a question on Sasikala soon becoming chief minister and if there was any delay from the side of the Centre in swearing her in, Ramachandran said “he (Governor Rao) will tell when he will come. “He has accepted the resignation of Panneerselvam, it is a question of convenience of Governor,” he said, adding, he did not see the Centre delaying it. As soon as Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao arrives here, Sasikala’s election as AIADMK Leader of Legislature Party will be submitted to him, he said. “After giving him (Governor) the letter, if there was any delay, only then questions about delay arise…let us see,” Ramachandran said. Blaming Pandian for not making efforts to unify the party in 1990 after it had split following the death of MG Ramachandran, Sengottaiyan said he did not do anything for the party then. “What right has he got to talk now,?” he asked and alleged that he was also responsible for filing some cases against Jayalalithaa including the one against providing high-level security.