Vijaya Baskar’s fate rests on Governor’s decision

Party spokesman and former minister Vaigai Selvan said the party would reveal its strategy only after knowing the reaction of TN Governor-in-charge Vidyasagar Rao. This follows a DMK delegation including Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Siva and party organising secretary RS Bharathi led by assembly deputy opposition leader Duraimurugan meeting Rao on Wednesday and handing over a petition regarding Vijaya Basker and the subsequent cancellation of the RK Nagar by-poll. 

When asked whether he wanted Vijaya Baskar’s removal, stalwart of the former chief minister O Panneerselvam led AIADMK (PTA) and Rajya Sabha MP Dr. V. Maitreyan said, “Why should I? adding, “It is for the Election Commission and the I-T department to act and decide.” Party spokesman and former law minister C Ponnaiyan was a little more astute when he said, “it is an intra-party matter.” When asked to explain, he added, “If action is taken on Vijaya Basker, there is also the fact that action should be taken against those who received money after affixing their signatures and this could be bad for the party.”

Meanwhile, MP Sasikala Pushpa told the media after her meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, “he had promised action against Dinakaran whose activities had resulted in the RK Nagar by-poll being cancelled.”