Convicted in DA case, Sasikala leaves Chennai resort, can't be TN CM
Sasikala, whose dream to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu shattered after Supreme Court ruling, was seen sitting in the front seat as her convoy while leaving the resort.
According to reports, it is unclear where she was headed.
Meanwhile in a major development, newly appointed AIADMK party chief Edapadi K.Palanisamy met the Governor of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday to stake claim to form the government in the state.
Palanisamy said on Tuesday that he has written to the Tamil Nadu Governor to stake his claim to form the government, following the Supreme Court's verdict about Sasikala Natarajan in the disproportionate assets case.
The Supreme Court said Sasikala has amassed illicit fortune.
Sasikala is accused of acquiring an illicit fortune worth about Rs. 60 crores with former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the early 1990s.
Sasikala, who had a trouble-free appointment as the party head, was initially chosen by AIADMK early in February to be the state's chief minister, taking over from acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.
Following her conviction, the apex court on Tuesday sentenced her to four years in jail.
She will not be able to hold public office or contest elections for 10 years, the period of her jail term plus six years after that.
Soon after the verdict, the AIADMK party chose Edapadi K.Palanisamy as their new leader and also terminated O Panneerselvam's primary membership of the party.
However, a team from the O Panneerselvam camp also met the Governor.
Panneerselvam has 11 of the party's 134 legislators on his side, media reports said.
In the evening, Panneerselvam again visited Jayalalithaa's grave.
According to reports, he was joined by Jayalalithaa's niece, Deepa Jayakumar.
With the political crisis in Tamil Nadu continuing, the Governor might ask both factions to take a trust vote to prove majority on the floor of the assembly.
However, if neither side manages to win majority, President's Rule could be imposed in the state.
Panneerselvam took oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after Jayalalithaa died on Dec 5, 2016.
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