Minutes after the AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala was elected as the leader of the Legislature Party following CM O Panneerselvam’s resignation, opposition parties in the state have cried foul.
DMK working president MK Stalin slammed the decision, saying the people of Tamil Nadu have not elected Sasikala. “People of Tamil Nadu did not vote for anyone from Jayalalithaa's household to become CM,” he told PTI.
"An incident has happened today that goes against the wishes of the people, and the intent of Jayalalithaa," he told reporters later in the day.
His party spokesperson Manu Sundaram meanwhile compared Sasikala's elevation to that of Rabri Devi in 1997 in Bihar.
"I think this was along expected lines. However, Sasikala has spoken in public once, never contested office, and has the sword of disproportionate assets case hanging over her. Things go against her. She is a 'benami' Chief Minister," said Sundaram, according to Firstpost.
Congress leader and son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, Karti Chidambaram called for the Assembly to be dissolved following the announcement.
In a series of tweets, he said that the state is “shamed”, and called the change of guard as a coup. He also urged VK Sasikala to “face the people”.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
#TNSaysNo2Sasi #FaceThePeople Dissolve the Assembly
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) February 5, 2017
If the apolitical youth of Tamil Nadu are not enraged by the "coup" developments today, nothing ever will!
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) February 5, 2017
Tamil Nadu Shamed. Dissolve the assembly. #FaceThePeople https://t.co/ewEAOBGmVa
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) February 5, 2017
Another Congress leader Khusbu Sundar endorsed Karti’s views. In a tweet, she said “TN is doomed”. “Democracy was just murdered. Whatever happened to the constitution where the CM was elected by the people,” she said in a tweet.
Democracy was just murdered..whatever happened 2 the constitution where the CM was elected by the people..
— khushbusundar (@khushsundar) February 5, 2017
She also retweeted many tweets endorsing similar views including one which compared Sasikala to US President Donald Trump.
@AIADMKOfficial I thought Americans were dumb after Electing @realDonaldTrump ,But Tamilians prove they are much dumber by Electing Sasikala
— JagguBhai (@gsdbuddy) February 5, 2017
Even, BJP’s state president Tamilisai Soundarrajan joined in the chorus.
"When she is elected as Chief Minister, it is the concern of everyone. This is not good for TN politics. In such a critical juncture, the change in guard is a concern for everyone. People of Tamil Nadu elected AIADMK so they can choose anyone. However, whether the new leadership is acceptable to people is a major question," she told TV reporters.