Tamil Nadu acting Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam is expected to discuss with senior officials the issue of alleged confinement of AIADMK legislators by party General Secretary V.K. Sasikala at a beach resort near here, a party leader said on Monday.
Not wanting to be quoted, the AIADMK leader told IANS that they have "proof" that some of the legislators were being forced to stay at the beach resort, around 90 km from here, near Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram.
According to him, the issue of keeping the legislators in the beach resort since last week has also been taken up with Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao. He refused to elaborate.
On Sunday, AIADMK's Rajya Sabha MP V. Maitreyan, who is part of the Panneerselvam camp, met Rao for around 30 minutes.
Queried about the discussions with the Governor, Maitreyan told IANS: "No comments."
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On Monday afternoon, Panneerselvam attended office after a week's gap.
On Sunday, he told the media that he would be going to the State Secretariat on Monday.
School Education Minister K. Pandiarajan will also be attending office, the officials said.
Panneerselvam did not attend office ever since he revolted against Sasikala on February 7, alleging that his resignation had been forced.
He resigned on February 5 paving the way for Sasikala to become the Chief Minister.
In a statement issued on Monday, Panneerselvam said a sum of Rs 300,000 will be given as solatium to the family members of a young girl who was molested and murdered.
Panneerselvam said the police have arrested the accused who is now behind bars.
Sasikala and Panneerselvam are locked in a bitter power struggle in the AIADMK.
Ten Lok Sabha and two Rajya Sabha members of the AIADMK as well as six of the 135 MLAs are siding with Panneerselvam.
The rest of the MLAs are reportedly with Sasikala and holed up in the beach resort.
Sasikala has sought to meet the Tamil Nadu Governor again to stake claim to forming a government.
--IANS
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