Four days can be a really long time in politics, and if you don’t believe that, look at Tamil Nadu. After he abruptly left for Mumbai on February 5, Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao will fly down to Chennai on Thursday afternoon to take stock of the political crisis at hand, even as fingers are being pointed at him for his delaying Sasikala’s swearing-in.
In the past four days days, Tamil Nadu has seen its Chief Minister O Panneerselvam hand in his resignation to the Governor; witnessed the ruling AIADMK nominate VK Sasikala as its leader of the Legislature Party; heard several members of the public and opposition voicing their dissent against her elevation as Chief Minister; observed veteran leaders of the ruling party openly raise suspicions over the late CM Jayalalithaa’s death and watched as OPS turned hero over night by rebelling against the leadership and staking claim to the Chief Minister’s chair once more.
But even as Tamil Nadu was grappling with the series of political events, Governor Vidyasagar has remained missing in action, having chosen to delay his arrival. This after the Supreme Court observed that it would pronounce its verdict in the Disproportionate Assets in a few days, in which Sasikala is Accused Number 2. Having sought legal opinion in New Delhi, the Governor in-charge of Tamil Nadu is expected to wait until the verdict is pronounced before inviting Sasikala to stake claim to the government.
Adding to the present turmoil is the fact that OPS has now declared that he is willing to withdraw his resignation given that he was allegedly forced to sign the letter by Sasikala and her family on Sunday. Whether the Governor will accept OPS’s explanation and be willing to withdraw his resignation remains to be seen.
What is expected on Thursday?
When Governor Vidyasagar lands in Chennai at 3:10pm, he is expected to meet with both rival camps. He may also meet with the 130 MLAs, who have been packed off by the Sasikala faction to a star hotel on the outskirts of the city. But it appears unlikely that Governor Vidyasagar will make any decision until the DA case judgement is pronounced.