CHENNAI: Two factions of the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu announced a merger on Monday, the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s close aide VK Sasikala and her family members. Soon after the merger, the two factions — including that of CM EK Palaniswami — swung into action by elevating O Panneerselvam as the new deputy chief minister and AIADMK convener.
O Panneerselvam:
The day began with Panneerselvam camp announcing that he would visit the party office by noon. As Panneerselvam’s proposed visit was delayed, speculation of fresh troubles between the two factions resurfaced. However, both OPS and Palaniswami arrived at the party headquarters and announced the merger, laying all speculation to rest.
Speaking about the confusion and delay, a spokesperson in the Panneerselvam camp told ET: “We had categorically said that we needed an assurance that she (Sasikala) would be out, or else the whole thing (merger) would be meaningless. They (Palaniswami camp) accepted last night (but) now, they are going back.” Post-merger, both the leaders dashed off to Jaya memorial on Marina Beach .
There was an uneasy calm outside Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran’s house which was visited by 18 AIADMK MLAs on Monday. CR Sarawswati, a spokesperson for Dhinakaran camp, said in the matter of expelling Sasikala only EC could take a stand. At least seven lakh AIADMK cadres have submitted petitions to EC with the name of Sasikala as the general secretary. If the 18 MLAs threatens to quit, AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu may come under pressure.
However, the party appeared confident of sailing through any such threat, with some members terming the merger as the “golden day in the history of AIADMK”.
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