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Sasikala Stakes Claim To Form Government In Meet With Governor Vidyasagar Rao

Prior to her meeting, she visited the memorial of her predecessor Jayalalithaa.
Sasikala met Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on 9 February, 2017.
ANI/Twitter
Sasikala met Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on 9 February, 2017.

CHENNAI -- In a major turn of events, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary V.K. Sasikala Natarajan on Thursday staked her claim to form government.

"Chinnamma stakes claim to form Government," AIADMK tweeted.

Attired in her signature green saree, AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala this evening visited the memorial of her predecessor Jayalalithaa, accompanied by hundreds of supporters, including some senior ministers, prior to her meeting with Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao.

She is slated to stake claim for forming the government during her meeting with Rao, contending that most of the party MLAs have endorsed her candidature for chief ministership.

Earlier, caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam, who had a brief meeting with Rao, said "good things will happen".

A teary-eyed Sasikala placed before the memorial a big closed envelope believed to be the list of MLAs who have endorsed her candidature for the top post. She offered rose petals and kneeled at the memorial. Her supporters also joined Sasikala in prayers with folded hands.

On Sunday, Sasikala was elected the Legislature Party Leader, paving her way for her elevation as Chief Minister.

AIADMK had claimed that 131 MLAs had attended a meeting called by her yesterday in the wake of a rebellion by Panneerselvam.

In a sudden twist of events, Panneerselvam had raised a banner of revolt, stalling the process of Sasikala's elevation with the Governor taking his time to take a decision.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.