AIADMK leaders meet governor Rao
Chennai, April 20: The move to merge the two factions of AIADMK appeared to have hit a stumbling block on Thursday, with the O. Panneerselvam camp putting certain conditions like formal expulsion of V.K. Sasikala and her nephew T.T.V Dhinakaran from the party besides a CBI probe into circumstances leading to Jayalalithaa’s death.
Mr Panneerselvam also wants withdrawal of affidavits submitted to the Election Commission by the Palaniswami faction declaring Sasikala and Dhinakaran as party general secretary and deputy general secretary.
A top leader of the Panneerselvam camp, K.P. Munusamy said their first demand was getting Sasikala and Dhinakaran’s resignation and then their formal expulsion along with 30 members of their family.
There can be a scope for talks to pave the way for merger only if these conditions are met, Munusamy said. He suspected “foul play” even in the Palaniswami camp’s decision of April 18 to remove Sasikala and Dhinakaran, a key demand of Mr Panneerselvam.
“Only your (Palaniswami Chennai: Senior AIADMK leaders M. Thambidurai, deputy speaker of Lok Sabha, and finance minister D. Jayakumar on Thursday separately called on governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, but insisted their meetings were not political. While Thambidurai described the meeting as a “courtesy call,” Jayakumar said he discussed the issue of vice-chancellor’s appointment to the Tamil Nadu Fisheries University. —
camp’s) conscience knows how you did that… Only you know the reason (for sidelining Dhinakaran). We are getting information that since he (Dhinakaran) was entangled in several cases, in order to free him, Sasikala’s family has used them (Palaniswami camp),” he claimed.
AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP R. Vaithilingam of the Palaniswami camp rejected Munusamy’s allegation on the events leading to Dhinakaran’s ouster.
“There is no drama. We compelled him (Dhinakaran) to step aside and he did it happily,” Vaithilingam said. He said the Palaniswami camp had not put forth any conditions for the merger talks and they would “happily” sit for negotiations for the party’s welfare.
“Respecting the sentiments of 1.5 crore party workers, to redeem the lost ‘Two Leaves’ party symbol and give good governance for the rest of four-and-a-half years, we will take all (required) steps,” he said. — PTI