POSITIVE RESULT ON AIADMK MERGER IN A DAY OR TWO, SAYS OPS
HURDLE Dinakaran’s supporters threatened to derail plan by activating “sleeper cells” in the party
CHENNAI: Both the former and the current chief minister indicated that the merger of the two AIADMK factions will happen very soon.
While, former chief minister O Panneerselvam on Saturday asserted that there will be some good news in a day or two, chief minister Edapaddi Palanisami assured that the differences would be solved soon.
Addressing an event to celebrate MGR Centenary at Thiruvarur, the chief minister said, “Some differences of opinion cropped up during the merger talks, but these will be ironed out and merger will happen soon.”
Meanwhile, Dinakaran’s supporters, however, threatened to “change the driver of AIADMK” after activating the “sleeper cells” in the party. “We are hearing that they may come out with a resolution ousting Sasikala as general secretary of the party, signed by a few MLAs. It will fail and the “driver” will be changed, said an MLA supporting Dinakaran.
After prolonged discussions within the OPS camp failed to reach a consensus among the rebel group, three senior ministers of Edapaddi Palanisami government – SP Velumani, P Thangamani and member of Parliament R Vaithialingam held talks with O Panneerselvam and his senior leaders till late into Friday night.
According to sources, the talks were positive but finer details are still to be worked out.
The OPS faction is insisting on formal ouster of jailed AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala and also bargaining hard for important portfolios with the EPS faction.
Sources said that chances of OPS being made the deputy chief minister with finance portfolio were bright but tussle is regarding portfolios for two other leaders of OPS camp.
OPS told mediapersons on Saturday that “you will hear good news in one or two days. Merger talks are going on in positive directions.” The merger is for strengthening of the party and this will be explained to the masses and cadres, he said.
It is being understood that the former chief minister may be made the head of a panel to look after the affairs of the AIADMK, till the leadership issue is settled.
At a time when the two factions are inching closer to a merger, AIADMK deputy general secretary and Sasikala’s nephew Dinakaran recently sacked by chief minister from the party post, has threatened to activate the “sleeper cells” and destabilise the party and government.
Dinakaran’s supporter Najil Sampath, a member of AIADMK’s ruling faction, blamed the BJP for the political game in Tamil Nadu and said that it would fail in its efforts.
“The two factions are becoming a laughing stock,” Sampath said. To a question if the merger moves were accelerating ahead of the arrival of BJP president Amit Shah in Tamil Nadu next week, Sampath dismissed that party as of no consequence in the state.
“Amit Shah is no god and this is not Gujarat,” Sampath told reporters at Dinakaran’s house.
Dinakaran is also slated to hold another show of strength at a public meeting in North Chennai on Wednesday. But worryingly for Dinakaran, his support among the MLAs is waning. Out of the 19 MLAs who attended his rally earlier this week at Melur, only five turned up at his residence on Saturday. Meanwhile, there are reports that Opposition DMK is preparing to move a ‘no confidence motion’, which could be supported by Di na kara n’ s supporters.