Have Seen 1,000 Panneerselvams.... I am not scared: Says Sasikala

Chennai: VK Sasikala, urging an immediate invitation from Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to take charge as Chief Minister in place of O Panneerselvam, declared today to a large crowd of supporters in Chennai, "We have seen 1,000 such Panneerselvams....I am not scared."Infusing her speech generously with references to former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, she said, "For the past 33 years, we both have seen everything."

The 61-year-old was addressing supporters at the Poes Garden home that she shared with Ms Jayalalithaa and where she continues to live. Her challenger O Panneerselvam, who says he deserves to remain Chief Minister and was forced by Ms Sasikala to quit last week, went to work for the first time in seven days.Yesterday, Ms Sasikala went twice to the Golden Bay resort near Chennai, the luxurious hideout of AIADMK lawmakers who have pledged support to her after the revolt by Mr Panneerselvam. The resort has been blocked to the public and the media but Ms Sasikala and her supporters have denied holding lawmakers hostage in an extreme measure to check defection.