KV Lakshmana

Trust vote won but Palaniswami govt in Tamil Nadu faces trust deficit

Political observers doubt the legitimacy and longevity of the Palaniswami govt in Tamil Nadu.

DMK protests indicate Stalin wants to keep the Tamil Nadu pot boiling

From his unbuttoned shirt and a fiery demeanour at a massive protest rally at the iconic Marina beach, just after being evicted from the assembly on Saturday, it was clear DMK leader MK Stalin wants to take the issue to the people.

Palaniswami wins floor test amid din in House; Stalin, Panneerselvam cry foul

Tamil Nadu chief minister E Palaniswami comfortably won a dramatic trust vote on Saturday amid chaos after the speaker threw out opposition DMK members for violence and Congress legislators walked out.

Tamil Nadu floor test: CM Palaniswami wins, now he has mountains to climb

Even if chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami scrapes through floor test in Tamil Nadu assembly on Saturday, which could turn into as exciting as a T20 match if the entire house votes, there are challenges aplenty for him.

Palaniswami to take floor test in Tamil Nadu assembly today, Panneerselvam reaches out to AIADMK MLAs

Two rival camps in Tamil Nadu’s ruling party are braced for an assembly trust vote on Saturday as experts indicated chief minister E Palaniswami’s wafer-thin majority and several unhappy legislators could upset calculations.

Highlights: Please vote against Palaniswami, appeals Panneerselvam ahead of floor test

AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami was sworn in as the chief minister on Thursday, ending a long suspense in the wake of a bitter power struggle in Tamil Nadu’s ruling party. AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala watched on television the oath-taking ceremony of her proxy from the Central on Bengaluru’s southern outskirts where she has been lodged after her conviction in a disproportionate assets case. But peace might still be distant dream for the AIADMK. Palaniswami has to prove his government’s majority in a floor test in a fortnight while his predecessor O Panneerselvam has vowed to continue with his fight.

VK Sasikala’s pick Edappadi Palaniswami takes over as Tamil Nadu CM

Edapaddi K Palaniswami retained almost all the ministers in the O Panneerselvam government, barring the ousted chief minister as well as education minister MF Pandiarajan who have rebelled against Sasikala.

Highlights: Palaniswami takes oath as CM, OPS says will fight for justice

Edappadi Palaniswami was sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu along with his cabinet after being invited by the governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao to form government on Thursday.

Tamil Nadu impasse continues: With Sasikala in jail, governor keeps pot boiling

A week-long political drama in Tamil Nadu appeared headed for a climax on Wednesday as two rival contenders for the chief minister’s position met the governor and sources indicated Raj Bhavan would take more time before a decision.

Highlights: Sasikala surrenders in Bengaluru jail as AIADMK tussle continues

AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, convicted in a corruption case, surrendered in the Bengaluru jail after the Supreme Court on Wednesday turned down her request for time.

How Sasikala and ‘Mannargudi mafia’ strengthened clout in Tamil Nadu power play

VK Sasikala and her family’s fortunes changed in direct proportion to the influence she began to wield as Jayalalithaa became the chief minister.

Jaya’s niece will work with OPS ‘in future’, Sasikala tries to put up brave front after conviction

Caretaker Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam was buoyed late on Tuesday as former CM J Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar threw her weight behind him in a bruising fight for control of the ruling AIADMK.

Sasikala DA case: All-out war in AIADMK; Panneerselvam expelled

Tamil Nadu minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was nominated the AIADMK legislative party leader and caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam was suspended from the primary membership of the ruling party on Tuesday.

Sasikala case: Stunned silence at Kovathur resort, celebration at OPS home

Rapid Action Force personnel reached the resort amid confusion whether she would be taken into custody or be required to surrender in court immediately.

DA case verdict: Spotlight on who will be Sasikala’s pick for CM job

The Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala in the 21-year-old disproprotionate assets case and asked her to surrender immediately.

SC finds Sasikala guilty in DA case, AIADMK expels Panneerselvam, 19 others

The Supreme Court on Tuesday found 61-year-old VK Sasikala and two others guilty in a 21-year-old corruption case, asking her to surrender immediately.

Sasikala DA case: Security stepped up in Tamil Nadu ahead of SC verdict

Security has been stepped up across Tamil Nadu ahead of the SC verdict in the DA case against VK Sasikala.

Highlights: Sasikala convicted in DA case, Panneerselvam camp celebrates

The impact of what happens in Delhi on Tuesday might be felt in Tamil Nadu. For the Supreme Court is likely to deliver a verdict today in a disproportionate assets case against AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, who is locked in a bitter turf war with acting chief minister O Panneerselvam. Conviction in the case will scuttle Sasikala’s chances of bagging the state’s top job. So the stage is set for a potboiler amid the Sasikala-Panneerselvam tussle to control the party after J Jayalalithaa’s death. Now, all eyes are on the apex court for a new twist to the political thriller.

SC verdict on Sasikala’s corruption case today, may break logjam over Tamil Nadu leadership

The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict in a 21-year-old corruption case involving AIADMK leader VK Sasikala on Tuesday, a judgment which could potentially impact her chances of becoming the chief minister of the state.

Sasikala invokes Amma, says Panneerselvam a traitor ahead of SC verdict on DA case

AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala switched into a combative mode playing the victim card on Monday, on the eve of judgment day in a corruption case involving her.

He scaled wall in disguise: How this AIADMK MLA joined Panneerselvam’s camp

An AIADMK legislator made a dramatic appearance at the residence of acting chief minister O Panneerselvam on Monday, claiming to have scaled a wall to escape from a luxury resort where party legislators are allegedly held captive by party chief VK Sasikala.

AIASMK highlights Feb 13: Sasikala’s fate in SC to decide future of battle against O Panneerselvam

A group of 120-plus AIAMDK legislators “held” in a private resort near Chennai should be released to go to their constituencies and sense the public mood, acting Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam has said.

Journos protest manhandling by AIADMK private guards at Golden Bay resort

The journalists were also demanding entry to the resort to speak to the MLAs but they were stopped by the guards.

AIADMK tussle: 5 MLAs join OPS, Sasikala says tough for women in politics

What could be Sasikala’s Plan B if Tamil Nadu governor delays swearing-in

Much to the detriment of Sasikala in their battle for power, Panneerselvam has increasingly been consolidating support from party members and – more importantly – the masses.

7 reasons why VK Sasikala is in the eye of the storm amid AIADMK’s power tussle

Exodus from VK Sasikala camp continued on Sunday, with five members of Parliament and an MLA pledging support to Tamil Nadu’s caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam.

AIADMK highlights Feb 12: With more MPs switching camps, OPS looks stronger vs Sasikala

Sunday’s developments take the total count of MPs backing Panneerselvam to 10. The AIADMK has 37 members in Lok Sabha. Until recently, all of them were with AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala.

AIADMK split to trigger battle for party properties in Tamil Nadu

Claiming to be the real AIADMK after he was expelled from the primary membership of the party by general secretary VK Sasikala, Madhusudanan questioned her authority.

AIADMK power tussle: DMK leader MK Stalin calls for free and fair floor test

Stalin, who called on the governor, C Vidyasagar Rao, on Friday late evening, told mediapersons later that he urged the installation of a stable and constitutionally valid government, at the earliest. 

Sasikala warns of ‘different approach’ in AIADMK turf war, OPS camp gets boost

A make-or-break showdown lays ahead for Tamil Nadu as AIADMK leader VK Sasikala alleged on Saturday that the delay in making her the chief minister was a deliberate design to split the party.