As AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala backed her nominee to be the next Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, the BJP on Tuesday opposed it describing it as the ‘appointment of a proxy’ and sought the Governor to take a decision on the basis of numbers as well as credibility.
In a divergent take on the issue, BJP National Executive member Subramanian Swamy, however, said he "took pro-constitutional stand which is, in fact, pro-Sasikala". Swamy indicated that Sasikala's loyalist EK Palaniswami, who was elected as the new legislature Party leader following her conviction, could be the Chief Minister.
Talking to The Pioneer, Swamy further said the convicted Sasikala, who cannot contest elections for 10 years following her conviction, "can continue as consultant". He described her as a "strong Hindu woman, unlike Jayalalitha who was fashionably pro-Muslim and pro-Christian". Asked about BJP's opposition to Sasikala's nominee, Swamy said BJP's Tamil Nadu unit needs to be dissolved. In contrast to Swamy's stand, BJP has indicated backing to caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.
BJP General Secretary and Tamil Nadu in-charge P Muralidhar said Sasikala, though holding post of AIADMK chief, does not have ‘people's endorsement’ like J Jayalalithaa.
“The Governor (Ch Vidyasagar Rao) has to take a call in the context of the Supreme Court's verdict. It has become a new factor. He cannot go by mere numbers. He has to go by both numbers and credibility.
If the new AIADMK leader is not able to create confidence among the people and cadres and is like a ‘puppet’ and a ‘yes man’, then the party should "know that the verdict is a blow to all kinds of manipulation”, he said.