Panneerselvam silent about AIADMK leaders demand to make Sasikala as CM

In New Delhi on Monday, TN chief minister O Panneerselvam did not reply to questions on the demand of a section of AIADMK leaders that Jayalalithaa’s aide V K Sasikala take over as general secretary of the party and head the state government.

During his meeting with prime minister Narendra Modi, he requested the central government to confer the Bharat Ratna on Jayalalithaa and install a full length bronze statue of hers in the Parliament House.

Since Sunday, AIADMK leaders and ministers in Tamil Nadu started urging Sasikala to become chief minister of the State.

Soon after Jayalalithaa's demise, Sasikala was the lone runner for the party general secretary post after getting huge support from most of the senior AIADMK functionaries for becoming party's chief.

Jayalalithaa Peravai, a wing of the ruling AIADMK urged Sasikala to take over the mantle of party General Secretary, contest in bypoll and become Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister.

"Besides guarding the AIADMK, Chinnamma (as Sasikala is referred to by party workers) should fight the RK Nagar bypoll (now vacant due to the death of Jayalalithaa) and assume responsibility as Chief Minister, and lead the Amma's government," minister R B Udhayakumar told reporters.