‘AIADMK factions to merge to save party’
The two factions of the AIADMK are to come together, Tamil Nadu finance and fisheries minister D Jayakumar said, after the end of a crucial ministers’ meeting held late on Monday night.
Over 20 ministers participated in the meeting that also discussed the modalities of the coming together of the E Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam camps. The main purpose and the only agenda of the meeting was to save the party by the two factions coming together, the minister said.
Emerging from the over an hour-and-half-long meeting held at the residence of electricity minister K Thangamani close to midnight, Jayakumar said the modalities were being worked out to pave the way for the merger. “The focus of discussion was how to get the two leaves symbol back to the party. For which we have to submit a lot of documents to the Election Commission. The ministers’ meeting also discussed the way forward for the merger of the two factions of the AIADMK,” he said.
All the 123 MLAs and ministers are of one mind — to carry forward Jayalalithaa’s ideology, policies and programmes — the minister said, skillfully deflecting all questions related to the modalities of the merger proposal and what the formula for unification was.
“We have welcomed OPS statement of willingness to work together and will speak with TTV Dinakaran upon his return from Bengaluru and take a decision,” the senior minister said.
Panneerselvam had said the factions should work in unison and it is welcome, he said, adding senior party leader and Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai too hailed it.
“Given that opinion (voiced by OPS), modalities to strengthen party and to run it with unity were discussed,” the minister said, briefing reporters about the deliberations.