Chennai: Intense war has broken out between Sasikala faction and the unified AIADMK led by Messers E Palanisami and O Panneerselvam, with supporters of deputy chief minister attempting to raid the sea-side resort — The Windflower Resort and Spa at Puducherry. Hundreds of supporters of OPS marched to the main gate of the resort where they tried to break the police barricade, some distance from the main entrance of the luxury resort.

Shouting slogans against Sasikala and Dinakaran, the OPS supporters burnt an effigy of Dinakaran and later clashed with police as they tried to break the cordon.

But the day began with Dinakaran sacking few more AIADMK leaders from the party – minister SP Udayakumar and few others from party posts. Meanwhile, Saiskala’s brother V Divakaran, claimed that more MLAs were to switch sides and join the new rebel group, now camped inside the Puducherry resort. The MLAs are also likely to be shifted to different locations, sources said.

Meanwhile, the Congress has also urged the governor to order a floor test, as many MLAs had withdrawn support to the government, bringing it into a minority in the 234-member house.

But clearly, the war between the two sides only escalated with MLAs now launching frontal attack against Sasikala and her family, known as the Mannargudi family as Sasikala hails from this small town.

MLA from Kavundampalayam in Coimbatore, VC Arukutty charged Sasikala and her family members with bringing Jayalalithaa into disrepute and responsible for landing in jail. His statements are an indication of the thinking of the government that has already ordered a probe into the death of Jayalalithaa. The unprecedented secrecy that surrounded Jayalalithaa’s health and treatment gave rise to speculations and allegations, which the probe committee would unravel.

The Coimbatore MLA dared the Mannargudi family to topple the government. “We know how to protect our government,” the MLA said adding “people will come to know that you are the guilty party to try and bring down Amma’s government.” The MLA futher said, “we don’t want you people and neither do the people want you,” he said referring to Sasikala and her family.

Meanwhile, unmindful of the dramatic developments taking place across Tamil Nadu, chief minister Edapaddi Palanisami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam reached Tiruchirapalli to address a rally jointly as part of MGR centenary celebrations.

This show of unity and strength at Tiruchirapalli is aimed at the party cadres and people, telling them that all was well with the party that was now strengthened and ready to take on new challenges.

Meanwhile, AIADMK mouth piece, Namdhu MGR on Wednesday condemned the governor C Vidyasagar Rao for not ordering a floor test after withdrawal of support by 19 MLAs, indicating the Sasikala-Dinakaran line of political assault on the authorities.

While the AIADMK was thus engaged in survival battle, the opposition DMK pounced on the NEET issue and blasted the Centre for cheating Tamil Nadu and the state government for its abject failure to protect the interests of the state’s students.

DMK working president MK Stalin announced a state-wide protest on Thursday on the NEET issue.

The central government that indicated one-year exemption for Tamil Nadu from NEET later did a u turn in the court, Stalin alleged and blamed the state government for doing nothing to save the children here.

“Both the factions of AIADMK have gone to Delhi and capitulated to the BJP and central government which is doing nothing for Tamil Nadu,” Stalin alleged.