Chennai: In Tamil Nadu, the warring factions of the ruling AIADMK are indulged in war of words as the political turmoil continues for the ninth day today. Acting Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam has said the party MLAs keep contacting him expressing willingness to join his camp but they are being held captive near Chennai. Talking to newspersons in Chennai, he dared his rival camp led by the party ad hoc General Secretary VK Sasikala to allow the MLAs to come out from a resort in the East Coast Road near Chennai.

Meanwhile, Ms VK Sasikala visited the resort yesterday for the second time in as many days and spoke to them in presence of the media. She said she is being opposed by those who cannot accept a woman to enter politics. The Panneerselvam camp has gained the support of the party’s six more Members of Parliament and many other of its regional commanders yesterday, though open support of MLAs is yet stagnant. He claims MLAs are willing to join his side but could not at this moment, as they are held captive.

Ms Sasikala sought to counter it by showing them to the media in her presence. Meanwhile, the stand of the principal opposition DMK is expected to be known this evening when the party’s ‘higher level strategy committee’ meeting is scheduled to be held in Chennai.