TTV’s appointment in party illegal: EPS
OPS, Palaniswami might meet in Delhi to discuss merger
The stage is now set for the merger of the two factions of the AIADMK with the camp led by chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami openly declaring the appointment of T.T.V. Dhinakaran as deputy general secretary by his aunt V.K. Sasikala as “illegal” and asking him to refrain from “creating confusion” in the party through his actions.
On the eve of his crucial meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, Mr Palaniswami chaired a meeting of party office bearers and passed a resolution suggesting that the post of general secretary in the AIADMK will be kept vacant as a tribute to J. Jayalalithaa, who passed away on December 5, 2016.
Sources said it also means that after the merger, O. Panneerselvam will not be the general secretary of the party, but will only lead a committee that would run the party and coordinate with the government. The merger, being facilitated on Mr Modi’s wish, is expected to take shape formally after they return from New Delhi on Friday night or Saturday.
Sources also told this newspaper that there was a high probability of Mr Palaniswami and Mr Panneerselvam meeting in New Delhi to stitch up the merger. “Both leaders will face the media together to announce the merger very soon,” a senior leader said.
The much-awaited meeting evoked the expected reactions from the OPS and Mr Dhinakaran factions. Mr Panneerselvam himself welcomed the move and said the EPS camp has “crossed halfway” and that he was waiting for it to complete the journey. For the first time, Mr Panneerselvam indicated that the merger efforts could see the light of the day.
Meanwhile, Mr Dhinakaran rejected EPS camp’ resolution saying no one has the right to remove him from the post of deputy general secretary.