Panneerselvam’s convoy stopped on way to resort, Section 144 imposed

Nobody has the authority to elect anybody, says OPS camp OPS had headed to the resort to have a dialogue with the MLAs but their  convoy had been stopped

Once the Supreme Court verdict was delivered, Sasikala Natrajan returned to the shelter of Golden Bay Resorts to plan the rest of the strategy. She started off her Plan B by appointing E Palaniswamy as her proxy and the next head of the AIADMK.

Meanhwile, O Panneerselvam, who still needs a majority to emerge winner in the CM seat contest in Tamil Nadu, appealed to his colleagues to ‘sink differences’ and continue Amma’s good rule. On receiving note that Edapaddi Palaniswamy had expelled him and others who crossed over to his camp, OPS rejected the appointment made by VK Sasikala. "Nobody has the authority to elect anybody," was the terse response from School Education Minister K Pandiarajan, a supporter of Panneerselvam, who also  has been expelled from AIADMK.

OPS had headed to the resort to have a dialogue with the MLAs but their  convoy had been stopped by the police just short of the resort in Koovathur. Security has already been tightened at the resort with more police personnel being deployed. After blocking the Panneerselvam camp from visiting, prohibitory orders have been put in place around the Golden Bay resort where the AIADMK legislators have been holed up for the past few days.

As of now, there are 10 MLAs in the Panneerselvam camp, including himself. He also enjoys the support of 12 MPs, including from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Palaniswamy is said to be seeking an appointment with the Governor Vidyasagar Rao in the Raj Bhavan, with a letter of support from the party.

(with inputs from PTI)