CHENNAI: In the strongest ever attack on caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, School Education Minister K Pandiarajan on Thursday went the full hog calling him a blatant opportunist and a hypocrite.
“O Panneerselvam was a party to all the decisions taken during the past 60 days. After electing VK Sasikala as the legislature party leader, he just literally prostrated before her in full view of all of us.
There is no truth in Panneerselvam’s charge that he was forced to resign as Chief Minister. Because he was there for more than an hour and he did not even utter a contradictory word. Now, he says the election of Sasikala as the general secretary of the party is in violation of some rules; it is a blatant opportunism and height of hypocrisy on his part,” said Pandiarajan, answering queries from mediapersons outside the Poes Garden residence of AIADMK general secretary Sasikala on Thursday.
Terming the reported support that Panneerselvam received as a myth, Pandiarajan said the party leadership had individual letters from all MLAs, including Panneerselvam, on electing Sasikala as the leader of the legislature party. “A myth is being created with the help of media that there is a support base for Panneerselvam, which is not true. All in the party are united on one point – there should not be any split. No cadre or functionary wishes to see a split in the party,” he added.
Deputy propaganda secretary Nainar Nagenthran charged Panneerselvam with changing his tune after two days.
Another Sasikala supporter Gokula India, organising secretary of the party, said Panneerselvam has changed his stance out of selfish interests. “Jayalalithaa’s soul will not forgive the betrayers,” she added.