Sasikala meets Guv; stakes claim to form government

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary V K Sasikala on Thursday staked claim to form the government during a 40-minute meeting with Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who arrived in Chennai in the afternoon.

Couple of hours after caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam visited Rao, Sasikala called on the governor and gave him a letter presumably containing the names of MLAs who elected her as the AIADMK legislature party leader, and requested him to invite her to form the government.

However, the governor’s response is not immediately known.

Sasikala arrived at 7.25 pm at the Raj Bhavan and left after a meeting that lasted about 40 minutes.

Before meeting the governor, she visited the memorial of the late Jayalalithaa at the Marina Beach in Chennai.

Attired in her signature green saree, Sasikala was accompanied by hundreds of supporters, including some senior ministers, to Jaya’s memorial.

A teary-eyed Sasikala placed before the memorial a big closed envelope believed to be the list of MLAs who have endorsed her candidature for the top post.

She offered rose petals and kneeled at the memorial.

Her supporters also joined Sasikala in prayers with folded hands.

On Sunday, Sasikala was elected the Legislature Party Leader, paving her way for her elevation as the chief minister.

The AIADMK had claimed that 131 MLAs had attended a meeting called by her on Wednesday in the wake of a rebellion by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.