political circles, did not categorically respond to DMK Deputy Leader in the assembly Duraimurugan's offer of support last week.
political circles, did not categorically respond to DMK Deputy Leader in the assembly Duraimurugan's offer of support last week.
"They (DMK) had thought that if possible, let Panneerselvam split the party and bring with him some legislators. And, with 89 MLAs (of DMK), a government could be formed," she said.
"He should have told Duraimurugan that he does not need their support when the AIADMK has a majority," Sasikala said adding "if Panneerselvam had said just that, I would have allowed him to continue, I would not have disturbed him." Sasikala alleged several people were involved in the "conspiracy" to split the party soon after Jayalalithaa's death.
Sensing trouble, she had asked asked five senior ministers, including Panneerselvam, to take charge immediately, the AIADMK General Secretary said.
"I could have become Chief Minister if I had wanted when Amma passed away. That thought did not cross my mind for even a second," Sasikala said, adding she wanted "Amma's government to continue."
She said she had asked Panneerselvam to take over as Chief Minister only "for the present."
Sasikala said Panneerselvam and other ministers even asked her to take charge to which she said, "We can look at it later".
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Madras High Court today reserved its order on habeas corpus petitions related to alleged illegal detention of two AIADMK MLAs at a resort.
During arguments, Public Prosecutor told the court that the two MLAs had, in their own hand, told a visiting team of officials they had not been detained against their will.
Pannerselvam camp has been insisting that the MLAs have been kept "hostage" at the resort by Sasikala and her supporters.
K Balu, counsel for MLA and petitioner in the case T Ramchandran, submitted that the only legal remedy in such cases was that the person under illegal detention had to be ordered to be produced in person before the court and that mere statements cannot be taken into account.
Public Prosecutor Rajarathinam submitted that an official team sent to the facility had also recorded the statements of 119 other AIADMK MLAs, besides the two for whose production before the court the petitions have been filed.
The division bench of Justices M Jaichandren and T Mathivanan then reserved its order.
Meanwhile, amid the intense struggle for power, Panneerselvam visited the state secretariat for the first time since his resignation on February 5 and being told by Governor Rao to continue in the post till alternative arrangements were put in place.
Dismissing suggestions that the state administration had virtually been paralysed due to his face-off with Sasikala, Panneerselvam had yesterday said he was meeting officials every day and that he would visit the secretariat today.
(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
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