Edappadi Palaniswami’s journey from a trusted partyman to AIADMK leadership

Governor Rao had heard competing pitches on Wednesday night from Mr Palanisamy and acting chief minister O Panneerselvam. Sasikala, 59, was on trial alongside Jayalalithaa Jayaram, the former chief minister, who died in December.

Stressing that the present situation is “extraordinary” in an apparent indication of the incarceration of Sasikala, he said hence the previous view will not be applicable now. The apex court has asked Sasikala to surrender immediately.

The Thevars and the Gounders are the two main dominant castes that have influenced the AIADMK over the years in Tamil Nadu, where the assertion of intermediary castes have been the crucial factor during elections.

The court found V.K. Sasikala guilty in the disproportionate assets case, upholding a four-year jail term handed down by a lower court and banning her from seeking elected office for 10 years. Naturally. But Panneerselvam has not opened his mouth to defend his dear leader’s reputation by challenging the Court’s verdict. Her party said it was considering the legal options.

Tuesday’s judgment has set the direction of the Tamil Nadu politics for days to come. He appealed to lawmakers in Sasikala’s custody to join him to carry forward the ideals of Jayalalitha, whose death had thrown the party and the state into a political crisis. Sasikala named nephew TTV Dinakaran’s as deputy general secretary of the AIADMK.

Since then Panneerselvam has been, by and large, enjoying support of the masses.

Palaniswami aides said overnight that he had the backing of 124 of the 135 AIADMK MLAs, all holed up at the resort.

But the tussle is far from over.

The remark sums up the mood in caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam’s camp as the news of Tamil Nadu governor C Vidyasagar Rao inviting Edappadi Palanisami to form the government trickled in.

Sasikala hit back, sacking Panneerselvam as the AIADMK Treasurer and also from the party’s primary membership.

His choice as leader of the legislative party looks natural since the idea now was to pit one Jayalalithaa loyalist with another.

After today’s development, Sasikala stands disqualified to take over as Tamil Nadu chief minister.