Tamil Nadu: Five Major Developments On Friday

Friday was a day of dramatic developments in politically volatile Tamil Nadu, where an unprecedented power game being played out. Here are the five major developments on Friday:

Governor Meets Experts

Governor Vidyasagar Rao on Friday began parleys with constitutional experts on the Tamil Nadu imbroglio. In the morning, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan and Director General of Police TK Rajendran met Governor Rao and discussed the situation in the state. Later, The Governor also invited Madras High Court chief justice Sanjay Krishna Kaul for discussion about the situation in the state and Governor's imparatives. The Governor is likely to issue a communique in the evening.

Sasikala can't be General Secretary

AIADMK presidium chairperson E Madhusudanan says he had sent a petition to the Election Commission not to recognise VK Sasikala as General Secretary of Tamil Nadu's ruling party. Now in acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's camp, Madhusudanan, says: "As per the party by-law, a person can become General Secretary of AIADMK only if he/she is a member for a continuous period of five years." Madhusudanan said Sasikala was not a party member for a continuous five years and hence she was not qualified to be the General Secretary.

Sasikala sacks Madhusudanan

Meanwhile, Sasikala dismissed Presidium chairman E Madhusudanan from the party for backing acting Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. She says Madhusudanan had violated the party's principles and brought disrepute to it and so was being ousted from the party post and the AIADMK's primary membership. She urged party members not to have any truck with Madhusudanan. The dismissal came a day after Madhusudanan joined hands with Panneerselvam, who has revolted against Sasikala by saying that he quit as Chief Minister under duress.

We are not prisoners, say MLAs

AIAMDK MLAs backing Sasikala in the power struggle in Tamil Nadu said they were not being held hostage. With several habeas corpus petitions filed in the Madras High Court and questions raised about the legislators, the MLAs met the media outside the resort where they are staying. They accused the DMK of spreading rumours that legislators backing Sasikala against acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam were being held hostage. AIADMK spokesperson C.R. Saraswathi, who is not a legislator, also told the media that she had to switch off her mobile phone as there were lots of threatening calls.

Security Taken Off at Swearing-in Venue

In view of the suspense over Sasikala's swearing in, the Tamil Nadu Police withdrew security at the Madras Centenary Hall claiming that there is no information about the swearing in of a new government. Soon after AIADMK legislators elected Sasikala as the leader of the legislature party, preparatory work for her swearing in started at the hall and police were deployed. But due to the absence of Governor C.V. Rao and the political turmoil, there is uncertainty regarding the swearing in.