CM dream over, but Sasikala still has numbers
With the Supreme Court upholding that VK Sasikala stands convicted in a 19-year old disproportionate assets case, the AIADMK general secretary's hopes of taking over as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu have been dashed to the ground. The majesty of the law has been upheld and everybody needs to respect it. For Sasikala, it has been a case of so near and yet so far. She had mustered the support of an overwhelming majority of the MlAs of the State Assembly and would have been sworn in as the Chief Minister in a matter of days. Earlier, she had emerged as the undisputed leader of the AIADMK by being selected as its general secretary — although there persists a dispute on technicality, as to whether her election was in accordance with the party's by-laws. But that apart, there is no disputing that she had the greater numbers as compared to O Panneerselvam who, despite having gained a few of her camp followers in the last couple of days, still lagged far behind her in the overall legislative and party support. Sasikala has legal remedies at hand and she is sure to deploy them. She can file a review plea or a curative petition and hope for a reversal of her sad fortune. But those are for later; as of now, she has lost the opportunity to head the State Government. This does not, however, automatically mean that Panneerselvam will be the Chief Minister. The Sasikala camp has already moved swiftly and named Edappady K Palaniswamy as the head of the legislature party. Palaniswamy is a Minister and a Sasikala loyalist. If the numbers in Sasikala's camp hold, it will be a matter of hours for the new leader to become the State's Chief Minister. However, we don't know for sure whether those numbers will remain or shift to the Panneerselvam camp in the aftermath of the Supreme Court verdict. It's clear that Sasikala, who now considers Panneerselvam a ‘traitor' to the AIADMK's cause — accusing him of hobnobbing with the rival DMK and reminding him that it was she who had contributed to promoting his political career — will not allow him to rule. Just to be on the surer and safer side, the AIADMK controlled by Sasikala for now, has expelled Panneerselvam from the party. The ousted leader's response will be interesting to watch. Meanwhile, we haven't heard the last of Sasikala, despite Tuesday's massive setback.
The developments have vindicated the stand of State Governor Vidyasagar Rao, who had decided to not act in a hurry despite pressure from various sides to take an early call. Certain political leaders had even castigated him and attached motives to his ‘inaction'; some even accused him of acting at the Union Government's behest. Unfazed, Governor Rao preferred to consult legal luminaries including former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, and wait for the apex court's verdict to clear the air. Now that the court's ruling is out, he will have little reason to delay the process of Government formation in Tamil Nadu under a new leader who enjoys the majority support of the party; if it's going to Palaniswamy, the latter has to prove his strength on the floor of the House. Meanwhile, it's not the end of political drama in the State. The Panneerselvam faction won't lie still. It’s bound to create complications in the days ahead.