While talks are yet to begin between the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) and AIADMK (Amma) camps, the Panneerselvam camp expects the fulfilment of the promise made by the ministers that Sasikala and T.T.V. Dhinakaran would be kept away from the party.
Their continuation as interim general secretary and deputy general secretary is expected to figure in the talks. While a leader in Mr. Panneerselvam’s camp told The Hindu that they expect the other faction to come up with a proper plan of action to fulfil the promise, a minister in the government said they are yet to form the committee for negotiations.
Two leaders in the AIADMK (PTA) that The Hindu spoke to said it was important to see through the promise of Sasikala and Dhinakaran’s exit. “It is not yet formal,” one of them said. When asked if it meant that the two have to resign from their posts, the leader said, “Yes. They have to”.
Edappadi as Deputy CM
At least one person privy to the discussions in Mr. Panneerselvam’s faction claimed that one of the demands would be his return as Chief Minister and Edappadi K. Palaniswami as Deputy Chief Minister. But, two senior leaders in Mr. Panneerselvam’s camp independently refuted the claim. “Where is the question of making demands when talks have not even started. This is preposterous,” a senior in Mr. Panneerselvam’s camp said.
Later in the night, Lok Sabha deputy speaker, M.Thambidurai who is in the AIADMK (Amma) camp, said at the Chennai airport: “Edappadi K. Palaniswami is the Chief Minister now. As many as 122 MLAs have made him the Chief Minister. He has proved his majority in the Assembly. So, there is no need to change the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, P. Thangamani, Electricity Minister, too said it was too early. “Our committee has not yet been finalised. We don’t know what their demands are. These are just rumours. There have been no informal talks as well,” he added.
A meeting of all the MLAs and MPs supporting Mr. Panneerselvam will be held at his residence on Thursday morning to discuss the developments and work out a strategy for the talks with the other faction.
