CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has invited V K Sasikala’s proxy Edappadi K Palanisamy, leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party to form the next government and directed him to seek a vote of confidence in the Assembly within 15 days.
"The Governor has today appointed Edappadi K Palanisamy, Party Headquarters Secretary of AIADMK as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and invited him to form the ministry at the earliest," a Raj Bhavan press release said.
Earlier in the day, the Governor met Palanisamy. It was the third meeting between the two since February 14 when AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala was convicted by the Supreme Court in a disproportionate assets case, dealing a body blow to her ambition of becoming chief minister.
During this morning’s meeting with Governor Vidyasagar Rao, AIADMK presidium chairman K A Sengottaiyan, deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran, AIADMK treasurer Dindigul C Sreenivasan, ministers P Thangamani and S P Velumani were also present.
Edappadi Palanisamy is likely to retain most of the ministers in the outgoing Cabinet headed by Panneerselvam, except school education minister K Pandiarajan. A few new faces are also likely to be inducted.
Soon after news broke of Palaniswami being invited to gorm the next government, supporters of Sasikala welcomed his elevation and hailed the Governor's decision. MLAs staying in the Koovathur resort, about 80 km from Chennai, for the past one week, were all smiles and raised slogans hailing 'Chinnamma' (Sasikala).
MPs supporting Sasikala said due process has been followed. Though the Governor held meetings with both competing factions led by Panneerselvam and Palanisamy respectively during the last two days, he seems to have gone by the latter’s claim to have the support of 124 legislators.
The invitation to Palanisamy brings to an end two weeks of drama which started with AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala being elected as the legislature party leader on February 5 after chief minister O Panneerselvam sent his resignation letter to the Governor. On February 6, the Governor accepted the resignation of Panneerselvam and asked him to continue until alternative arrangements are made.
However, on February 7, Panneerselvam revolted against Sasikala and said he was forced to resign. On February 9, Sasikala met Governor and staked claim to form the next government. However, the Governor after holding discussions with legal experts, deferred his decision.
On February 14, Sasikala was convicted in the wealth case verdict for four years. Following this development, Edappadi K Palanisamy was elected as the legislature party leader and he also met the Governor and staked claim to form the government.