Tamil Nadu governor in Mumbai: Suspense remains over Sasikala’s swearing-in

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Feb 07, 2017: There was little clarity on Tuesday about the date of swearing in of VK Sasikala as the 14th chief minister of Tamil Nadu, with governor C Vidyasagar Rao still in Mumbai.

 

No word has come in from the ruling AIADMK though there are several reports doing the round, including the governor consulting legal experts on Sasikala, facing several charges of corruption.

The 61-year-old chief minister-designate has never contested an election and is about to take over the top job at a time when the Supreme Court is to deliver a verdict in a corruption case against her.

Sasikala was on Sunday elected the legislature party leader by the ruling AIADMK members, clearing the way for her to be the third woman chief minister of the southern state.

AIADMK leaders gave two possible dates for her oath ceremony -- February 7 and February 9, without saying anything officially.

“We have not yet heard from the governor about swearing in. The party had submitted the documents to the governor and is yet to get time from him,” AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi told HT on Monday. Reports about Tuesday being the D-day were all speculation, she said.

Governor Rao, who would administer the oath of office, on Monday night headed for Mumbai from New Delhi and not Chennai. It was not clear when Rao would be back in the state.

Rao travelled from Coimbatore to the national capital on Sunday night after Sasikala was elected leader of the AIADMK legislature party.

Elevation of Sasikala, a close confidante of late chief minister J Jayalaithaa for more than 30 years, is unlikely to be smooth.

The former video parlour owner whose association with Jayalalithaa is the only reason for her rise within the party and government faces several cases of corruption.

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would give its verdict next week in a Rs 66-crore corruption case against her.

Though Jayalalithaa was the main accused, after her death on December 5 the disproportionate assets case against her stands abated.

Sasikala is accused number two in the case, in which Jayalalithaa, she and two others were found guilty by a trial court in September 2014.

The Karnataka high court acquitted the four and it is this verdict that has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

If found guilty, Sasikala would have to step down.

A PIL was also filed in the Supreme Court on Monday to restrain Sasikala from being sworn in, with the petitioner arguing her resignation in case of a conviction in the DA case could lead to a law and order problem in the state.