'The battle is over, but the war has just begun'

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Saturday said that people of the state would decide whether the victory of the Palanisami government in the trust vote was "valid or not."

"People of Tamil Nadu will decide whether the resolution passed today (electing Edappadi K Palanisami) in the Assembly is valid or not," he told reporters at the Secretariat.

Panneerselvam said his struggle would continue until late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa's rule was formed in the state.

He said his supporters had made two requests to Speaker P Dhanapal which were turned down by the latter.

The first was to allow AIADMK MLAs (staying in a resort) to visit their respective constituencies and then hold the assembly session for the confidence vote.

"But he (Dhanapal) did not accept it. Second request was to conduct the secret ballot vote which again he did not agree to," Pannerselvam said.

Expressing sympathies to DMK MLAs who were forcibly evicted from the assembly, the former CM said, "It is against democracy and the resolution was passed after they were evicted from the Assembly."

On the appointment of AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala's family members to top party posts, Pannerselvam said "if Jayalalihaa was alive, she would have continued to ensure that they did not have any access to the party."

"Today the fight is between the followers of Amma and Sasikala. The team led by Amma (Jayalalithaa) will win.... definitely," he added.

Sitting MLA Semmalai, who was appointed as the party whip by the O Panneerselvam camp said, "The battle is over but the war has just begun."

Sasikala's vow has been fulfilled: Tamil Nadu CM

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that the vow taken by AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala has been fulfilled.

"The vow taken by our party's General Secretary V K Sasikala has been fulfilled," he said as party cadres raised slogans "Chinnama Vaazhga!" at the MGR memorial, hailing Sasikala.

He was apparently referring to Sasikala's earlier assertion that Jayalalithaa's government would continue in the state.

Palanisami, flanked by his ministers and senior party leaders, including party Deputy General Secretary, TTV Dinakaran, paid floral tributes at the memorials of party founder M G Ramachandran and late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Later, talking to reporters, Palaniswami said, a party which had been nurtured by AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa, was ignored by some and they wanted to unseat this government by allegedly joining hands with DMK.

"Their true face has been exposed by today's result", he said.

Asked whether he would take action against those who went away from the party, he said, only the party can decide.

On the issues that would be taken up, the chief minister said the first issue was to address out the severe water crisis in the state.

"The state is facing severe water crisis that was not experienced in the last 140 years. Solving the drinking water problem will be my first priority," Palaniswami said.

He said he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and get the relief fund for the damage caused by cyclone 'Vardah in December last year.

Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI Photo