Dinakaran gives in for ‘party’s sake’

CHENNAI: AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran gave in to demands for his ouster from the party on Wednesday, saying he has already stepped aside.

He had earlier put on a brief show of resistance, and called for an emergency meeting of party MLAs and district secretaries to discuss the proposed merger of rival AIADMK factions on Wednesday afternoon.

“I am not worried about being sidelined,” Dinakaran said outside the Egmore court premises, where he was to make an appearance in connection with a FERA case. “In view of this, the meeting stands cancelled.”

The AIADMK (Amma) leader said he was keeping quiet in the interests of his party. “If it is helpful for the party, I will keep quiet. But, at the same time, they must safeguard the party and its government without fear,” he added.

Dinakaran said he had asked MLAs who visited him on Tuesday evening to cooperate with other leaders for the larger good of the party. When asked if he had already stepped down from his post, the beleaguered leader said: “I am the deputy general secretary, and the only person I have to give my resignation to is party general secretary VK Sasikala.”

He claimed to have no regrets regarding the party’s decision. “I have not lost anything that I had. Within two months, I have worked to the expectations of the party cadre. You all know how they worked in RK Nagar. Many MLAs, cadres and office-bearers are calling me. I am keeping quiet just because I don’t want any problems in the party or the government,” Dinakaran said.

When asked if he was being targeted by the BJP at the Centre, he said. “At best, they can put me behind bars. I will face it if that’s my destiny,” he replied.

Even as Dinakaran was speaking to mediapersons, a crucial meeting on the modalities of the merger was underway at the residence of former chief minister O Panneerselvam. Both the AIADMK factions, led by Panneerselvam and chief minister Edapaddi Palaniswami, were preparing for merger talks.

The DMK also watched developments closely for further instability. Panneerselvam, meanwhile, expressed happiness over the ouster . “One family cannot be allowed to take over Tamil Nadu. This is the first victory of dharmayudh,” he said.