LS Dy speaker Thambidurai, 9 AIADMK MPs leave for Delhi

AIADMK leader and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, who has been in the forefront of the pro-Sasikala chorus, along with nine party MPs left for Delhi tonight amid political turmoil in Tamil Nadu.
They declined to speak to mediapersons at the airport as they left fot the national capital where the first phase of the Budget Session, which began on January 31, is set to conclude tomorrow.
Thambidurai had yesterday dismissed Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's claim that he was forced to resign from the post and had insisted that AIADMK general secretary Sasikala would succeed him as all legislators were behind 'Chinnamma'.

He had said whether it was the coming civic poll or Parliamentary elections, they would win them under her leadership.
Earlier today, Sasikala had mustered an overwhelming majority of AIADMK MLAs against a rebellious Panneerselvam, who claimed to have their backing, but speculation was rife on what action Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao would take when he arrives here tomorrow from Mumbai after keeping away from this city for three days.
In a show of strength, Sasikala had called a meeting of party MLAs at the AIADMK headquarters and later herded them in buses to an undisclosed destination in a bid to keep them together.