Vijayashanti asks Venkaiah to ensure smooth transition

The actress turned politician said, “The developments in Tamil Nadu remind me of the ‘political coup’ by a section of TDP MLAs led by Nadendla Bhaskar Rao to topple the democratically-elected government led by N T Rama Rao with the help of the then AP Governor Ram Lal in 1984. 

NTR had to hit the streets in Delhi to prove his majority before the President and it was the same Venkaiah Naidu who supported the TDP to regain power and fought for the Constitutional norms,” she reminded him. 

“Naidu is now a key minister in the Centre and he has been actively pursuing politics of Tamil Nadu ever since former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was hospitalised. He should use his good offices and ensure no subversion of the Constitution takes place and allow V K Sasikala, who has the majority support of the AIADMK MLAs, to become the new Chief Minister,” the actress said. 

Vijayashanti asked Naidu “not to give room for any horse-trading or poaching of MLAs, or Constitutional impropriety to destabilise a democratically elected government and lead to political uncertainty.” 

Lambasting OPS for his u-turn, Vijayashanti said, “Panneerselvam appears opportunistic. Following the election of Sasikala as the Leader of the Legislative Wing of the AIADMK, he tendered his resignation and was asked by the Governor to continue as caretaker CM till alternate arrangements are made.  But, he still thinks that he is a full-time Chief Minister. He is anticipating that he should be nominated to the post which is impossible.” 

The actress added “OPS was silent when Sasikala was elected General Secretary of the party. He kept mum when she was elected unopposed and even proposed her name in the Legislative Party meeting.  He offered full support publicly to Sasikala. Now, he claims that he was forced to resign and tries to garner sympathy that he is the “constitutionally-elected leader” which is absolutely ridiculous.” 

Vijayashanti has also criticised OPS for “creating confusion by stating that a probe will be initiated on the death of Jayalalithaa.” OPS said that he has some doubts on the death of Puratchi Thalaivi. He claimed that he was not even allowed to see Amma in Apollo Hospital. 

“This is contradictory to his earlier claims. He wants CM post at any cost and hence trying to alter his statements,” she said. The actress accused OPS for hobnobbing with the opposition DMK with which Jayalalithaa has fought all through her life. 

“OPS stands for Other Party Support or Opposition Party-led Sabotage,” she added. Objecting to the statement of Panneerselvam that he was guided by the spirit (atma) of Amma (Jayalalithaa), the actress turned politician said “How can he say that he could go for the clandestine support of DMK on the advice of Amma?”