Chennai, Feb. 13: V.K. Sasikala turned combative today after wearing a defeatist air for the past two days, addressing a large gathering of her supporters outside her Poes Garden residence and asserting that she would soon head "Amma's government".
Apparently piqued by the lack of display of public support at her two-day road shows to the beach resort where MLAs are being kept, Sasikala sought to convey that she too can command a crowd - as O. Panneerselvam has been doing at his residence since February 8.
On Monday afternoon, she briefly addressed the media inside the compound of Poes Garden and stepped out to be greeted by hundreds of supporters who raised slogans praising her.
She climbed on to an elevated platform and picked up a microphone. "In my 33 years, I have seen a thousand Panneerselvams. So this traitor is nothing for me. He has betrayed the party and our dear Amma for which the people will not forgive him," she said.
Sasikala sought to establish her political credentials by stating that it was she who had urged Jayalalithaa to stay on and fight when she wanted to quit politics after being pushed down from the military van carrying MGR's body.
"But for me, she would have quit politics. Later, she asked me to conduct parleys for finalising electoral alliances. And I have also done a lot for the cadres," she revealed for the first time.
"I shall overcome any challenge that comes my way as I have crores of AIADMK cadres behind me. With the support of 129 MLAs, we will form an AIADMK government and unveil Amma's portrait in the Assembly," she said amid cheers. "I could have become chief minister on the very night Amma died. But that thought never occurred to me and I asked senior ministers to see that Panneerselvam was made the chief minister," she added.
Sasikala iterated that only when she sensed there was a secret understanding between the DMK and Panneerselvam did she decide to step in and take over the chief minister's post.
Later, AIADMK spokesperson Vaigai Selvan alleged that the BJP and the DMK were pressuring acting governor Vidyasagar Rao from swearing Sasikala in. "It is more than five days since Chinnamma staked her claim. We hope she will be invited this evening," he stated.
In the evening, Sasikala, for the third consecutive day, drove down to the beach resort to meet the MLAs. En route, she stopped by at a village, went into a hut and spent some time with the women living there, with Jaya TV's camera following her every move. The message: here is a people-friendly leader.
Two teams of doctors accompanied her to treat 20-odd MLAs who are suffering from food poisoning. Sasikala met them and wished them a speedy recovery. She is expected to spend the night at the resort, sources said, to ensure her flock stays with her.
An hour before Sasikala's speech, Panneerselvam sought to assert his position as chief minister by driving down to the secretariat and holding consultations with the chief secretary and the DGP. He also met representatives of the government staff union and announced compensation to the family of a victim of sexual assault and murder.
His presence at the seat of power coincided with Union minister Venkaiah Naidu's observation that there was no constitutional crisis in Tamil Nadu as there was a functioning chief minister in the state. This was probably another trigger for Sasikala to reach out openly to her supporters lest Panneerselvam's chutzpah went unchallenged.
