Erode: Former minister and TVK chief coordinator K A Sengottaiyan on Thursday recounted how he lost the chief ministership and the tide turned in favour of AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami at Koovathur on Feb 14, 2017, after the demise of former chief minister Jayalithaa on Dec 5, 2016, and conviction of her aide Sasikala in a corruption case.“I should have become the chief minister after the demise of Jayalalithaa. I was chosen by Sasikala to be declared as CM until Feb 13 night at Koovathur,” Sengottaiyan said while addressing an election rally in Erode. He said Sasikala had patted him on his shoulder and even referred him as the chief ministerial candidate that night. Sengottaiyan claimed he had responded by stressing the importance of keeping the party united. But the scenario changed in the morning. “That person (EPS) had a cash box in his hand. I did not have a cash box in my hand,” he said. “When I saw EPS in the morning, Sasikala informed me that she has chosen EPS for the CM post and asked me to pave way for him, which I agreed,” Sengottaiyan said “No sooner, EPS fell on Sasikala’s feet like a python and grabbed the opportunity, leaving me sidelined in the party henceforth,” Sengottaiyan quipped.
