Palaniswami to meet governor shortly, but AIADMK game still on

Hyderabad Feb 16 : Tamil Nadu governor C Vidyasagar Rao invited AIADMK legislature party leader Edapaddi K Palaniswami on Thursday, the ruling party said on Twitter amid speculations that the leader will be sworn in as the chief minister this evening.The AIADMK was hit by a power tussle, with party general secretary VK Sasikala eyeing the CM’s post. After Sasikala’s conviction by the Supreme Court in a disproportionate assets case, the fight is between her pick, Palaniswami, and acting CM Panneerselvam. Both of them have met the governor separately.

Before leaving for Bengaluru to surrender on Wednesday, Sasikala re-inducted relatives Dinakaran and Venkatesh into the party, years after they were expelled by Jayalalithaa. Her move is seen as a last-ditch attempt to hurt Panneerselvam, who has been expelled from the AIADMK in a bitter turf war with the long-time Jayalalithaa aide over the control of the party.