Incumbent Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, who revealed that he resigned from the post under threat yesterday, has now said that he will prove his strength in the assembly.

Addressing the media in Chennai, Panneerselvam said, "There has been no instance where he has betrayed the party, while remaining in power or opposition. If party cadres ask me to withdraw my resignation, I will do that."

"Amma remained CM for nearly 16 yrs, I happened to become CM twice, all this was the wish of Amma. Always followed Amma's path. I will prove my strength in the assembly," he added.

Talking about the Amma's death, the chief minister said, "Health queries regarding Amma raised in recent past, it's duty of state government to enquire. Recommended an enquiry commission."

Panneerselvam rebelled against AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, who is set to take over as the next chief minister of state, claiming that he didn't want to resign but was forced to do so under pressure.

More than an hour after Panneerselvam came out against Sasikala, the party removed him from the post of treasurer. Dindigul C Srinivasan was appointed as the new treasurer in his place.

With the controversy surrounding elevation of V.K. Sasikala Natrajan as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister intensifying, the National Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday said the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazakham (AIADMK) General Secretary could be sworn-in as the Chief Minister constitutionally because majority of MLAs had elected her.

"As far as Sasikala elevation is concerned, it has become the matter of controversy. Initially, it was declared that the majority of the MLAs from Tamil Nadu assembly who belonged to AIADMK have already chosen her the leader of the house and therefore constitutionally she could be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of the state," NCP leader Majeed Memon told ANI.

Memon further said that there are numbers of issues such as mystery about the death of her predecessor, pendency of matter against her, non-experience which are being raised but all become insignificant once the majority of MLAs want her to take over as Chief Minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to debate on motion of thanks to President's address in Rajya Sabha today.

In his reply to motion of thanks to President's address in Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister yesterday said it is high time to understand and appreciate the inherent strength of India's people and take the country to newer heights.

Prime Minister Modi said there is a need to repose faith in 'Jan Shakti'.

He said because of democratic power of people, a person born to a poor family could become the Prime Minister of India.

Coming down heavily on Congress, the Prime Minister said everyone remembers how democracy was under threat from 1975 to 1977, when opposition leaders were jailed and newspaper freedom was curtailed.

Issuing fresh allegations, incumbent Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday claimed he was never allowed to meet late chief minister J. Jayalalithaa even once when she was hospitalised in the Apollo Hospitals.

"I went to Apollo for all 75 days, but never allowed to meet Amma even once," he said.

Without naming All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Sasikala Natarajan, Pannerselvam blamed the former for his resignation from the post of chief minister.

Breaking his silence a day after Sasikala removed him from the party's treasurer post, Paneerselvam said, "There is a force behind everything that is happening. I don't understand her rush to become the Chief Minister. Does she not understand the situation in Tamil Nadu?"

Responding to a poser as to why Sheela Balakrishnan quit as adviser to the Tamil Nadu Government, a post to which she was appointed by Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam said, "Can't say much about her resignation. She was already given an extension."