Sasikala Convivted: Panneerselvam Frontrunner for Tamil Nadu CM’s Post

With AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala being convicted by the Supreme Court in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate case, her rival O Panneerselvam is now the frontrunner for Tamil Nadu’s chief minister’s post.

VK Sasikala received a major jolt as the Supreme Court upheld upheld the trial court’s judgment of September 27, 2014 convicting her along with former chief minister late J Jayalalithaa in the 21-year-old disproportionate case.

As Sasikala stands disqualified to take over as Tamil Nadu chief minister, decks are clear for Panneerselvam to be invited by Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to be invited to form government in the state. Rao may, however, ask Panneerselvam to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly.

Alternately, the Sasikala may still stake claim to form government asserting support of majority of the MLAs. Sasikala may prop up one of her loyalist MLAs to replace her and stake claim to form government.

In this scenario, it depends upon Governor Vidyasagar Rao to use his discretion. He has three options:

1. He may ask Panneerselvam to form government and prove majority on the floor of the House.

2. As suggested by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, Rao may “call a special session within a week’s time and have a composite floor test as was ordered by the Supreme Court in the Jagdambika Pal case”.

3. Though most unlikely, the Governor may invite the MLA leading the Sasikala camp to form government.

As the Supreme Court has given its verdict against Sasikala, the focus now shifts to Raj Bhavan in Chennai.

Courtesy : indiatoday