Chennai: Chief minister O. Panneerselvam and a few of his cabinet colleagues called on AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa on Wednesday at her Poes garden residence. This is the first time post Jayalaithaa's acquittal that ministers are meeting their party supremo. AIADMK party sources indicated that the prevailing situation in the wake of the verdict in the Karnataka high court was discussed threadbare at the meeting to which only a few selected ministers were invited.
In the absence of clear cut announcements on the possible resignation of the Chief Minister OPS, the election of Ms Jayalalithaa by her MLAs and a firm date for her swearing-in, speculation continued to be rife in the state capital. However, party loyalists are convinced that their leader would soon equal the record of her bête noir in Tamil Nadu politics - M. Karunanidhi - by being sworn in for the fifth time as the Chief Minister soon.
Moments after the CM's convoy entered Poes Garden, senior ministers Natham R. Viswanathan, P. Palaniappan and R. Vaithilingam trooped in for the meeting that lasted only for a short while. The names of those ministers who had not been invited to attend the meeting also made the rounds in party circles.
Several ruling party MLAs vacated their rooms in the MLA hostel and left for their respective hometowns and constituencies. The legislators have been asked to leave for their hometown and if required they could be asked to rush back anytime, said an informed party source. Clarity is expected on the Chief Minister situation in a day or two.
