Advantage Greenways Road

She also rushed to the resort to confirm the support of her MLAs staying there. Shortly after shooting a letter to the Governor, seeking an appointment to parade her MLAs at Raj Bhavan, Sasikala told her cadre outside Poe’s Garden residence that they were being patient because of the belief in democracy. “But, we cannot be patient forever. Beyond a point, we will unite and do whatever is necessary,” she remarked, in a veiled attack on Raj Bhavan for not inviting her to prove her majority on the floor of the House even five days after submitting the letter of support to the Governor. 

Proclaiming that it was her duty to lead the party and government to fulfil Jayalalithaa’s vision, the AIADMK general secretary said that she would not be cowed down by any threats, before leaving to Koovathur where she held a detailed discussion or rather negotiation with the MLAs for over three hours. Sasikala left Chennai at 2.30 pm. By 3.50 pm, she had reached the Golden Bay resort where a number of MLAs have been cooped up since Wednesday. 

Flanked by KA Sengottaiyan and a few other senior ministers, Sasikala was understood to have given ‘assurances’ to the MLAs to repose faith in her. But while the meeting lasted only an hour, Sasikala did not leave Koovathur until 7 pm. Sources add that she met with MLAs individually as well, and spoke to each of them to ensure their support for her CM bid.

Appointed party presidium chairman on Friday, Sengottaiyan told outside the resort, a first glimpse of which was permitted by the AIADMK this evening, that it was the desire of the AIADMK MLAs to make Sasikala chief minister. However, information spilling out of the resort suggest that the MLAs were playing hard ball with ministers from their districts, even demanding expensive assurances from them.

Meanwhile, sources also indicated that Sasikala group were even considering Sengottaiyan or Highways Minister Idappadi K Palanisamy for chief minister to retain the government in the event of the general secretary (in charge) failing to become CM herself and stem the rot in the party, more so after senior leader C Ponnaiyan and minister K Pandiarajan switched sides. It was reliably learnt that at least half a dozen MLAs were in touch with OPS camp.

Addressing party workers and leaders at her Poes Garden residence on Saturday, VK Sasikala said, “We can be patient only to an extent. Beyond that, we will do what we need to do.” Apparently ‘frustrated’ over the delay in her swearing in and concerned over increasing desertions. Sasikala said the delay was a ploy to divide AIADMK.