Palanisamy is not a pushover either, as he has been one of a handful of senior AIADMK legislators to be given important portfolios by the late J Jayalalithaa. From the Gounder caste, he is part of an important section of the party base.
While BJP feels the conflicting claims may yet result in governor Vidyasagar Rao calling for a composite floor test, the party is readying to do business with whichever faction emerges on top.
Some in BJP expect AIADMK legislators to support Panneerselvam once Sasikala is out of the scene but admit that party members will be driven by a desire to avoid an election, having barely served out a year of their term.
