Chennai: AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala suffered a huge setback in the tussle for Tamil Nadu chief ministership as Governor C Vidyasagar Rao said she cannot be called to form the government, India Today news channel reported yesterday.
According the channel, the Governor in a report to the Union Home Ministry cited the pending disproportionate assets (DA) case against Sasikala as the reason for her not being qualified to stake the claim.
The channel, which said it has a copy of the report sent by the Governor, reported that he also took note of the PILs against Sasikala, on which verdict was pending.
The PILs have been filed challenging her elevation as the Chief Minister, since "she has not been the General Secretary for a continuous period of five years", as mandated by the party's constitution.
In the meantime, the Supreme Court yesterday declined an urgent hearing of a plea seeking direction against AIADMK leader V K Sasikala being sworn-in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
The petitioner contended that Sasikala should not be sworn-in as the verdict on Karnataka government's plea challenging her acquittal in a disproportionate assets case was awaited. The top court is expected to pronounce its verdict on the Karnataka government's appeal next week.
Madhusudanan dismissed
AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala yesterday dismissed E Madhusudanan from the party for backing acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, and in his stead appointed senior party leader K A Sengottaiyan as the party Presidium Chairman.
Sasikala said that Madhusudanan had violating the party's principles and brought disrepute to it, and so was being ousted from the party post and the AIADMK's primary membership. She urged the party members not to have any truck with Madhusudanan.
