Indicating that he was not prepared for immediate merger talks with the ruling party, O. Panneerselvam, leader of the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) on Monday evening hit out at Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami accusing the latter and AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran of being “comrades in arms”.
Addressing a May Day public meeting in R.K. Nagar, Mr. Panneerselvam said it would be difficult for the merger talks to happen as Mr. Palaniswami and others had not withdrawn the affidavits before the Election Commission supporting Sasikala as general secretary.
However, addressing a May Day meeting at Saligramam, Mr. Palaniswami said the AIADMK (Amma) camp was ready for talks sans conditions. “We have an open mind on talks. First, he (Panneerselvam) said at the (Madurai) airport that there were no preconditions for (merger) talks, but a few people are creating hurdles every time,” he said.
Nonetheless, not moving an inch from his stated position that Sasikala and Dhinakaran have to be ousted from their respective party posts and a CBI probe be instituted into the death of late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, Mr. Panneerselvam said without these, there was no point in holding talks.
“Last week, they had a meeting of the MLAs and district secretaries and took signatures on affidavits supporting Sasikala. To add to that list, Edappadi (Palaniswami) too has signed (the affidavit). How can we trust them and go for talks in this scenario?” he asked, and alleged that the AIADMK (Amma) was indulging in drama in the name of talks.
Edappadi’s contention
Mr. Panneerselvam said the time of kings was over long ago. “AIADMK cadre should not face a situation where they have to go and stand in front of a family of 15-20 people (for anything),” he said, attacking Sasikala and her family.
According to Mr. Palaniswami, since cases were pending regarding the party’s election symbol, the appointment of Sasikala and the circumstances surrounding Jayalalithaa’s death, these could not be set as preconditions for talks. “How can we have conditions for talks when these cases are still pending? Only if we talk, we can thrash out all the issues,” he said, and reiterated that his faction was ready for talks with an open mind.
Both the leaders, nonetheless, hit out at DMK working president M.K. Stalin. While Mr. Panneerselvam said Mr. Stalin started criticising him after fears that the DMK would lose in the R.K. Nagar byelection (since rescinded), Mr. Palaniswami targeted the DMK leader and said he had no locus standi to criticise the AIADMK as the DMK, despite being part of the Central government for 14 years, had failed to resolve the Cauvery water dispute.
