Madhusoodanan jumps ship to O Panneerselvam

Informed sources revealed that the move also surprised caretaker Chief Minister O Paneerselvam as there was no indication of Madhusoodanan jumping ship. After reaching Paneerselvam’s Greenways Road residence, he told the media that “I decided to switch allegiances as the Sasikala group leader’s dictatorial attitude was worsening with each passing day. It was to be on the side of justice that I decided to join hands with OPS,” he said. 

Panneerselvam, who welcomed him to their camp stated that when Jayalalithaa died, it was Madhusoodhanan’s name that was first mooted for the party general secretary post and that it was subsequently changed before December 29 when Sasikala was made the general secretary. 

Welcoming the presidium chairman, former AIADMK MP Maitreyan said that what began as a ‘silent meditation’ has now turned into an uprising. Madhusoodhanan accompanied Paneerselvam when the latter went to meet Governor Vidyasagar Rao and was also seen with OPS when he addressed the media after returning home. It may be recalled that it was Madhusoodanan who first prostrated before Sasikala at her Poes Garden residence and started the rhetoric that she should take over as the party’s general secretary a few days after Jayalalithaa’s death.