With public anger against Sasikala peaking, and a wave of support shoring up for O Panneerselvam, several AIADMK MLAs are reportedly inclined to move to the latter’s camp despite pressure from the Mannargudi family. But on Wednesday afternoon, the Sasikala camp gathered almost every AIADMK MLA at the party headquarters, shepherded them into luxury buses and took them to separate locations, in an attempt to prevent them from crossing over to the OPS camp.
However, one MLA was apparently so desperate, that he literally ran away from the group of MLAs being herded to Minister Edapadi Palanisamy’s house, also on Greenways Road.
Multiple sources close to OPS have confirmed to The News Minute that the MLA from Tirunelveli, whose name is being withheld as he was not available for comment. He is now present at OPS’s home at Greenways Road in Chennai, sources confirmed.
AIADMK MP V Maitreyan and MLA K Manickam from Solavandan constituency, both now in the OPS camp, confirmed that the MLA left the other group while they were being transported to Palanisamy’s house.
“It is true that this happened,” AIADMK MP V Maitreyan said. “As they were getting down from the bus to enter Palanisamy’s house, he left the group and came here.”
Manickam told TNM that there was no ‘fear’, “I wouldn’t say he ‘ran away’ and came here. He doesn’t have to. But yes, he left them midway and joined us.” Manickam was the first MLA to join hands with OPS.
Multiple eyewitness also saw the said MLA walk from Palanisamy’s house to OPS’s house, both only a lane apart.
The News Minute is trying to reach out to the MLA in question and will add his version when available.
Meanwhile, several MLAs are also being held captive at Golden Bay Resort at ECR. Read our story here.
The Tamil Nadu Governor arrives in Chennai on Thursday afternoon and is scheduled to meet members of both camps to take a decision.