Sasikala calls on Tamil Nadu Governor, stakes claim to form government

Soon after caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam visited Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala today staked claim to form the government during a 40-minute meeting with Rao, who arrived in the city this afternoon. Sasikala gave the Governor a letter presumably containing the names of MLAs who elected her as AIADMK Legislature Party Leader, and requested him to invite her to form the government.

However, the Governor's response is not immediately known. Sasikala arrived at 7.25 pm at the Raj Bhavan and left after a meeting that lasted about 40 minutes. At 5 pm, Panneerselvam had called on Rao and after a brief meeting told reporters that "good things will happen and dharma will triumph". The Chief Minister is now meeting his supporters at his Greenways Road official residence. Sasikala was elected Legislature Party Leader on February 5, paving the way for her becoming the chief minister. Subsequently, Panneerselvam raised a banner of revolt on February 7, along with his supporters. He currently has the support of leaders like former Ministers KP Munusamy, Natham R Viswanathan, Rajya Sabha MP V Maithreyan and a few sitting MLAs.