Panneerselvam likely to get Jaya boot

Ahead of May 2016 Assembly Elections, the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu seems to be hit by the conduct of various ministers with party chief Jayalalithaa’s once trusted leader O Panneerselvam holding the finance portfolio coming under a cloud by his unsavoury actions.

He joins his colleagues such as Milk and Dairy Development Minister B V Ramana, Animal Husbandry Minister K M Chinnayya and Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, who were recently sacked from the top position for anti-party activities. In the past one week, district secretaries close to Panneerselvam were  sacked from Theni, Chennai, Kancheepuram and Karur district.

A senior AIADMK leader seeking anonymity said that Panneerselvam is not in the list of leaders named in the committee, which has been constituted for seat sharing talks with parties.

With senior leaders sidelined, a new team comprising ministers R Vaithilingam, Edappadi K Palaniswami, P Thangamani and S P Velumani are involved in conducting initial talks with the possible allies especially former Union minister Vasan’s Tamil Maanila Congress. In addition, Ministers Natham Viswanathan and P Palaniappan too were not included in the committee.