Tamil Nadu politics: Clashes spill on to the streets

Moments after Edappadi Palanisami took oath as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, clashes broke out between supporters of O Panneerselvam and newly inducted cabinet minister C V Shanmugam.

Scenes outside the residences of both leaders turned chaotic as supporters accused each other of instigating violence.

Moments after the new government was formed, stones were allegedly pelted at O Panneerselvam's residence following which clashes broke out. Police deployed at the spot had a tough time bringing the warring parties under control. Heavy deployment of police was already present outside Panneerselvam's residence when the alleged stone pelting took place.

"Within moments of coming to power, Sasikala supporters are exblhibiting their rowdism. Let the people know the true nature and decide for themselves," said Panneerselvam supporters talking to the media after the police managed to restore peace. Both groups pelted each other with stones and water bottles.

Palanisami visits Jayalalithaa memorial

Soon after he took oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Palaniswami headed straight to Jayalalithaa memorial at the Marina beach. With 15 days to prove his majority in the assembly Palaniswami claimed that he was confident of protecting his government.

"Governor has asked me to prove majority in the assembly and I assure you that I will prove majority. Amma' s governance will continue," he said after paying tributes to Jayalalithaa and M G Ramachandran. The new chief minister was accompanied by TTV Dinakaran, Sasikala's nephew and AIADMK's new deputy general secretary.

AIADMK MLAs of the Sasikala camp who attended E Palaniswamy's swearing in ceremony headed back to the resort in Kuvathur. The MLAs are expected to remain at the resort till the floor test in the Tamil Nadu assembly is concluded. The newly sworn-in chief minister Pananiswamy and AIADMK's senior leader and deputy speaker Tambidurai is expected to visit Sasikala Natarajan in the jail in Bengaluru.

OneIndia News