Mumbai: Even 48 hours after accepting the resignation of O. Paneerselvam as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, governor in-charge Ch. Vidyasagar Rao has not given any indication of when the swearing in ceremony of the new Chief Minister will be held in Chennai.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has already chosen the party’s general secretary, V.K. Sasikala, as its legislature party leader for Tamil Nadu assembly, but Mr Rao has not taken any decision about her.
There is also no indication from Mr Rao’s office in Mumbai, where he resides as Governor of Maharashtra, about when he would fly to Chennai for any possible swearing in ceremony.
Mr Rao came to Mumbai from Delhi on late Monday night after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union finance minister Arun Jaitley.
Sources close to the development said that, after these meetings, Mr Rao has sought legal opinion about the disproportionate assets case against Ms Sasikala.
The Governor is keen to know the status and merit of the case, in which the Supreme Court is likely to deliver its verdict in which in the next few days.
Ms Sasikala had been acquitted in the case by the Karnataka high court. Mr Rao is also getting legal advice on whether it would be proper to wait till the apex court’s verdict in the DA case or if he can go ahead with the swearing in ceremony.
Meanwhile, the Governor is also aware of the allegations made by AIADMK leader and former Assembly speaker P.H. Pandian against Ms Sasikala. However, the Governor’s office has not taken any official note of Mr Pandian’s allegations, as he has not formally approached the Governor with the allegations.
