'TN CM Panneerselvam will not be able follow Sasikala's instructions; AIADMK will split'

'Sasikala Natarajan will be the head AIADMK and will not give Panneerselvam a free hand.'

New Delhi: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has claimed that the AIADMK will split into factions as J Jayalalithaa's close confidante Sasikala Natarajan will take over the reins of the party and not allow Chief Minister O Pannerselvam to function independently.

Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, Wednesday, Swamy said, “Panneer, that's what I call him, will not be able to do what Sasikala tells him to, then the party will split.”

"AIADMK will not survive as a single entity. Sasikala Natarajan will be the head of the organisation and will not give Panneerselvam a free hand and she will ultimately find somebody from the family for the post," he had said earlier.

O Pannerselvam was made the CM within hours of Jayalithaa's death at 11:30 pm on Monday evening.

Though he is known to be close to Sasikala, it remains to be seen as to how their relationship will evolve without the towering presence of Amma.

Panneerselvam had stepped into her shoes twice earlier when she was convicted in corruption cases.

As finance minister, he was given charge of the portfolios held by Jayalalithaa after she was admitted to Apollo Hospitals on 22 September.