Is Panneerselvam trying to unseat Palaniswami?, asks PC

Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday tore into Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for praising BJP's emergence as the single largest party in Karnataka as “bellwethering a grand entry to South India".

In a series of tweets in Tamil on Wednesday morning, Chidambaram sought to know whether Panneerselvam was planning to unseat Edappadi K Palaniswami as Chief Minister and stake his claim to the post by warming up more to the BJP.

“Why did O Panneerselvam term BJP's performance in Karnataka as a grand entry into South India? Is he supporting imposition of Hindi or is he supporting (Centre's) action of protracting implementation of the Cauvery verdict? Or else, is he trying to nudge the BJP to unseat EPS and make him the Chief Minister?” he asked.

Chidambaram has been a vociferous critic of the AIADMK Government and its alleged links with the BJP after the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

“On this cheerful occasion, I wish to express my warm greetings and felicitations for the significant victory of BJP in Karnataka Assembly Elections, bellwethering a grand entry to South India,” Panneerselvam had told BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday, after the BJP emerged the single largest party in Karnataka Assembly polls. He also sent wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.