Uncertainty over swearing-in of Sasikala as Chief Minister on February 7

Amid reports that Rao was seeking legal advice before administering the oath of office to Sasikala, Maharashtra Raj Bhavan sources said he was arriving in Mumbai tonight. There was, however, no official word on what the Governor was exactly planning to do after the Supreme Court today indicated it could deliver a judgement soon in a disproportionate assets case against Sasikala.

Reliable sources in the government said that the ceremony was likely to be held on Tuesday or a day later depending on the availability of the Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao who is presently in New Delhi on a personal visit. 

However, AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi told DTNext that they had not received any confirmation on the date and timing of the swearing-in ceremony on Monday evening. The swearing-in ceremony was reportedly planned to be held at the Centenary hall of Madras University. Earlier on Monday, the Governor had accepted the resignation letter of Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and his council of ministers. 

“I hereby accept your resignation and the resignation of your council of ministers. I request you and the present council of ministers to function until alternate arrangements are made,” the Governor stated in his letter. On Sunday, the AIADMK MLAS elected Sasikala as the leader of the legislature party after Panneerselvam tendered his resignation to the Governor citing ‘personal reasons’. 

Meanwhile, a PIL was on Monday moved in the SC seeking to restrain Sasikala from being sworn in as CM on the ground that the apex court was likely to pronounce within a week the judgment in assets case in which she and Jayalalithaa were accused. The PIL was filed by Chennai resident Senthil Kumar, General Secretary of NGO Satta Panchayat Iyakkam. 

The petition is likely to be heard on Tuesday morning. Kumar, who mentioned in the plea that he will argue the matter in person, sought a stay on Sasikala’s swearing-in, contending that if she was convicted and forced to resign, there was a possibility of riots erupting all over Tamil Nadu.