After the initial euphoria over the possibility of a quick patch-up, the warring AIADMK factions are now locked in a stalemate. While the AIADMK (Amma) group says it is willing to participate in merger talks, the rival camp led by O. Panneerselvam continues to be combative, setting preconditions for the talks.
On Thursday, leaders of both factions spoke in defiant tones, indicating that the merger is unlikely in the near future.
AIADMK (Amma) leaders said they were “willing” to hold talks with the OPS faction and had already constituted a committee. Addressing reporters, Finance Minister D. Jayakumar said, “They [the OPS faction] said they were ready for talks. If they fix a date and approach us, we are definitely willing to engage in talks.”
Another senior leader of the ruling group R. Vaithilingam also said they were willing to engage in talks with the other faction “any time” and there were no preconditions. Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam said the other faction should act in the party’s interest. It was the OPS faction that had approached the EC which led to the freezing of ‘Two Leaves.’
The OPS camp, however, hardened its stand insisting on the eviction of Sasikala, T.T.V. Dhinakaran and almost 30 other family members from the party, as essential for the merger talks to begin.
The faction also insisted that a CBI inquiry be instituted into the death of Jayalalithaa and that Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami should make such a recommendation to the Centre.
