Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi today tendered his opinion to Governor Rao to convene a special session of the assembly for a composite test to determine who between the two warring leaders enjoys majority.
In his opinion, sources said, Rohatgi has stated that "he (Governor) should call a special session within a week's time and have a composite floor test as was ordered by the Supreme Court in the Jagdambika Pal case".
The political future of Sasikala, a long-time friend of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister the late J Jayalalithaa, would, however, entirely hinge on the Supreme Court judgement in the disproportionate assets case likely tomorrow or the day after.
Sasikala, who was chosen AIADMK legislature party leader on February five, will be rendered ineligible for contesting an assembly election in the event of conviction, thereby stifling her ambition of becoming the Chief Minister. An acquittal, on the other hand, will put her on a more solid footing to face the floor test.
Meanwhile, an embattled Sasikala, who had staked claim to form the government on February 9, met over 100 AIADMK MLAs lodged at a resort on Chennai's outskirts for the third time in as many days.
Sasikala, also the party general secretary, has been struggling to keep the flock of 129 MLAs supporting her together after six of them switched over to Panneerselvam camp. Eleven MPs are also backing Pannerselvam. Tamil Nadu has a 234-member assembly.
"It was Panneerselvam who pushed us to do that, we did not do it on our own, and this is what happened. I would have allowed him (to continue in his post) as I did not aspire for being the CM and that is the truth," she told party workers at Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence here where she continues to live even after her mentor's death.
Sasikala said Pannerselvam or OPS, as he is called in
"They (DMK) had thought that if possible, let Panneerselvam split the party and bring with him some legislators. And, with 89 MLAs (of DMK), a government could be formed," she said.
"He should have told Duraimurugan that he does not need their support when the AIADMK has a majority," Sasikala said adding "if Panneerselvam had said just that, I would have allowed him to continue, I would not have disturbed him."
Sasikala alleged several people were involved in the "conspiracy" to split the party soon after Jayalalithaa's death.
"I could have become Chief Minister if I had wanted when Amma passed away. That thought did not cross my mind for even a second," Sasikala said, adding she wanted "Amma's government to continue."
She said she had asked Panneerselvam to take over as Chief Minister only "for the present."
Sasikala said Panneerselvam and other ministers even asked her to take charge to which she said, "We can look at it later".
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Madras High Court today reserved its order on habeas corpus petitions related to alleged illegal detention of two AIADMK MLAs at a resort.
Pannerselvam camp has been insisting that the MLAs have been kept "hostage" at the resort by Sasikala and her supporters.
K Balu, counsel for MLA and petitioner in the case T Ramchandran, submitted that the only legal remedy in such cases was that the person under illegal detention had to be ordered to be produced in person before the court and that mere statements cannot be taken into account.
Public Prosecutor Rajarathinam submitted that an official team sent to the facility had also recorded the statements of 119 other AIADMK MLAs, besides the two for whose production before the court the petitions have been filed.
Meanwhile, amid the intense struggle for power, Panneerselvam visited the state secretariat for the first time since his resignation on February 5 and being told by Governor Rao to continue in the post till alternative arrangements were put in place.
Dismissing suggestions that the state administration had virtually been paralysed due to his face-off with Sasikala, Panneerselvam had yesterday said he was meeting officials every day and that he would visit the secretariat today.