A meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) leader O. Panneerselvam here on Monday failed to provide the push for a merger in the near future with the ruling AIADMK (Amma) in Tamil Nadu.
While Mr. Panneerselvam left no one in doubt that the Prime Minister was playing an active role in bringing the warring factions together, it emerged that the former had set some hard terms for a reunion, which were unacceptable to the faction loyal to Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
“I came to convey the wish of our party cadre to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and apprise him of the political situation in Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Panneerselvam told journalists after the meeting, but evaded questions on the merger. “I can’t comment on speculation. We will do what is good for the people,” he said.
The BJP has been working hard to negotiate a truce between the two factions while being keen on driving away the family of jailed party leader V.K. Sasikala from a unified AIADMK.
On Friday, Mr. Palaniswami met Mr. Modi and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely in Delhi.
According to sources, Mr. Panneerselvam is insisting that he be either given the chief ministership or the post of party general secretary as a condition for merging with the AIADMK (Amma). The other formula, according to his aides, is to share the Chief Minister’s post on a rotational basis. On the record, though, Mr. Panneerselvam has been placing only two demands — a probe into former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s death and expulsion of the Sasikala family from the party.
“We have made our conditions very clear. I can’t say anything more on the merger,” Rajya Sabha Member and AIADMK (PTA) leader V. Maitreyan told The Hindu .
Meanwhile, the AIADMK (Amma) is getting uncomfortable about conditions dictated by the AIADMK (PTA). “If they are not ready to make any concession, how can there be a merger,” a senior MP asked.
However, Finance Minister D. Jayakumar told journalists in Chennai that the ruling faction saw “positive signals” in Mr. Panneerselvam’s statements in New Delhi.
A couple of days ago, both camps looked like almost taking synchronised steps. The Panneerselvam faction submitted an affidavit to the Election Commission, along with a copy of the resolution passed by the Palaniswami faction, nullifying the appointment of T.T.V. Dhinakaran as deputy general secretary.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), meanwhile, is gleefully watching the negotiations. “Even if the two come together, they will not be able to save the AIADMK unless they get Mr. Dhinakaran too on board. Such a scenario is unlikely,” DMK MP T.K.S. Elangovan said.
