Governor to wait for SC verdict before calling Sasikala to stake claim

Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao may wait till the Supreme Court delivers its judgement in the DA case against AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala, among others, before calling her to form the government, according to reports.

Late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and some others are accused in the disproportionate assets (DA) case.

Several English and Tamil television news channels, citing a three-page report purportedly sent by Rao to the central government, said he will wait till the apex court delivers its judgement in the case.

However, the Governor's office denied having sent any such report. When contacted at his office and residence, Ramesh Chand Meena, Principal Secretary to the Governor, was not available for comments.

According to India Today news channel, Sasikala suffered a huge setback in the tussle for Tamil Nadu chief ministership as the Governor said she cannot be called to form the government.

It said the Governor, in a report sent to the Union Home Ministry, cited the pending DA case against Sasikala as the reason for her not being qualified to stake the claim.

The channel, which said it had a copy of the three-page report sent by the Governor, reported that Rao also took note of the PILs against Sasikala, on which verdict was pending.

The PILs have been filed challenging her elevation as the Chief Minister, since "she has not been the General Secretary for a continuous period of five years", as mandated by the party's constitution.

--IANS

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