Chennai: Turning emotional, AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala on Sunday exhorted “129 MLAs” supporting her to be “with me” come what may to ensure that she defeats “powerful forces” that are out to destroy the party and the government.
A combative Ms Sasikala also declared she will never go back on the decision (of becoming the Chief Minister) and that she will take “right decision at the right time.”
Meeting the MLAs who are currently lodged at Koovathur near Mamallapuram for the second successive day, Ms Sasikala addressed the media along with her legislators to drive home the point that she still commands majority in the AIADMK Legislature Party and hence she should invited to form the government.
After meeting the MLAs separately, Ms Sasikala also addressed them at the conference hall of the Golden Bay resort.
Ms Sasikala asked them to take a pledge that they would support her to ensure that the AIADMK Government installed by late Amma carries out people-friendly measures and projects.
“No one can stop my government. No one can create any hurdles. I am not scared of anyone. I will succeed,” Ms Sasikala said. Revealing the number of MLAs supporting her – she put the number at 129 – for the first time, Ms Sasikala termed herself a “little lion” because she had worked with the “lion” (Jayalalithaa) and asserted that people who can form the government are sitting before her.
“Some people want to split the AIADMK. But the people who are here are the government. The people who can form the government in Tamil Nadu are here. You should all remember that Amma is with us. Media says all of you are locked up, but all of you are independent here. That is the reason why I asked them to record the event,” Ms Sasikala said, adding, “I will protect the party and the government even by sacrificing my life.”
During a brief interaction with media, Ms Sasikala refused to comment about pending judgment in DA case and said the MLAs were ‘free’ at the resort.
She also accused chief minister O Panneerselvam of trying to split the AIADMK Government as well as the party. Contending that her goal is to ensure that the Government installed by late Jayalalithaa should be “kept alive”, Ms Sasikala reminded the MLAs more than once that they should all stay united with her to ensure that the “designs of parties like DMK” are defeated.
“If you are with me, we can together work for the people. I am not afraid of anyone. I never go back from my decision and I have never done that. I will take the right decision at the right time,” Ms Sasikala said.
She said once the government led by her gets installed, the MLAs should visit their constituencies and explain to them the events that unfolded in the meantime.
“We should also work towards winning all the 40 seats that are stake in the Lok Sabha elections and ensure that the AIADMK scores a hat trick in the 2021 assembly elections. I promise that I will work towards achieving this feat,” Ms Sasikala said. She also alleged that many of the women MLAs complained to her they are being threatened by “some people.”
