Panneerselvam camp likely to visit party MLAs at resort

Sources in the Panneerselvam camp said the delegation of MLAs and senior leaders could include School Education Minister K Pandiarajan and that they were planning to meet their colleagues put up at the resort in Koovathur, about 80 kms from here.

Security has already been tightened at the resort with more police personnel being deployed. The efforts by Panneerselvam's aides to garner support for the Chief Minister comes in the midst of his being sacked from the AIADMK's primary membership by Sasikala.

Loyalist and Highways Minister Edappady K Palaniswami has been chosen as the Legislature Party leader at a meeting chaired by Sasikala.

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.

One of the MLAs, who joined the Chief Minister's camp last evening, SS Saravanan from Madurai (South), had claimed even legislators not with him would vote for Panneerselvam in the event of a floor test.