An online petition against AIADMK General Secretary, VK Sasikala, becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has received over 1.8 lakh signatures as on Wednesday afternoon.
The petition, titled "Dissolve TN govt and Stop Sasikala from becoming Tamilnadu CM!!", was started on Sunday by a person who identifies himself as Tamil Arasan PSR. It had received 182,462 signatures at the time of writing.
The petition's goal is to collect 2 lakh signatures.
Stating that "Sasikala with many old money laundering case, should not be allowed to lead a Indian state. Moreover she has no political experience and has been reason for many corruption activities while Jaya was CM," the petition asks that "Either OPS should continue as CM or the current govt to be dissolved and reelection to be conducted." (sic)
The petition is addressed to the President of India, the Governor of Tamil Nadu and the Chief Election Commissioner of India.
In a note thanking those who supported the petition, Tamil Arasan writes, "... in this protest and even in Jallikattu one, we have clearly told Public won't continue to be mute spectators anymore and politicians should not forget they are People representatives not a elite group, they have to be accountable and answerable to voters. (sic)"
"Let's select the right capable and talented person from the constituency, irrespective of party or caste and creed he belong to, who can represent the people & work for them. Else we have to keep on fight and crib on daily basis and push our Kids into a much stupid world," he adds.
The comments section of the petition, however, is a spectacular display of class bias and misogyny. Many commentators deride her as a "servant" or a "maid", although several others point out to her "inability" and corruption taint as well.
The situation on the ground took a dramatic turn on Tuesday night, with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam saying that he was forced to resign from his position, and that, if the people of state wanted, he would withdraw his resignation.
Speaking to The News Minute’s Dhanya Rajendran on Wednesday, O Panneerselvam in an exclusive interview, made an explosive and starting revelation: he wasn't allowed to meet the late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa even once during her 75-day hospitalisation.
Read the full piece here: OPS’s explosive revelation to TNM: I was not allowed to see Jayalalithaa even once in Apollo
For its part, the AIADMK has dismissed all allegations and called OPS’s actions a betrayal to the party. Speaking at the party headquarters, Sasikala gave a detailed, acerbic response to OPS’s allegations.
"When Amma died, I gave him an opportunity to be CM, because Amma gave him several opportunities," Sasikala said, in an open display of authority.
Repeatedly calling OPS a betrayer, Sasikala said, "For so many days, he did not have any revelations to make. It is only because he is part of the DMK’s conspiracy that he’s saying these things now.
Read the full piece here: Sasikala dares OPS, claims he was Chief Minister at her mercy