Tamil Nadu : Judicial inquiry into Jayalalithaa's death, Paneerselvam says
His statement came before Sasikala, once the closest aide of late CM Jayalalithaa, takes oath as Chief Minister.
The bitter slugfest within the party became pronounced a day after former Speaker and senior AIADMK leader PH Pandian alleged that Jayalalithaa's death was unnatural, making insinuation of a foul play by Sasikala, whose sudden rise in the party is being opposed by many AIADMK leaders.
Reiterating that he would prove his majority in the Assembly by taking a trust vote, Paneerselvam appealed to all MLAs that they should take a "firm decision taking into account the feelings of the people in their constituencies."
On the other hand, Sasikala, 61, who never had much of political exposure, except playing the back seat operator as Jayalalithaa's right hand person, is meeting AIADMK lawmakers at the party office.
On Tuesday, the AIADMK said that Sasikala will be sworn-in as the state's Chief Minister by Thursday. .
TN Governor Vidyasagar Rao reportedly consulted legal experts on whether such an oath-taking ceremony should be held at all as a plea was filed in the Supreme Court against her
Sasikala's camp claims that out of the party's 134 lawmakers, about 100 are on her side. She is likely to address the media later on Wednesday.
Earlier, while addressing the media, Panneerselvam said that he was being pressurised by Sasikala and her aides and is willing to stay as the Chief Minister if his party wants.
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