Shortly after Finance Minister D. Jayakumar announced that the AIADMK (Amma) has decided to keep away the Sasikala family from the party and government, six party MLAs extended support to deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran.
The MLAs – Thangatamilselvan (Andipatti), S.T.K. Jakkaiyan (Cumbum), K. Kathirkamu (Periyakulam) – all in Theni district; P. Vetrivel (Perambur in Chennai), Edhirkottai S.G. Subramanian (Sattur) and S. Selvamohandos Pandian (Tenkasi) – met Mr. Dhinakaran at his house in Adyar here rebelling against the decision of the Chief Minister.
Yet again, at a late-night announcement, AIADMK Amma that stood behind Jayalalithaa's close aide Sasikala has decided to keep TTV Dhinakaran out of party's administration.
Finance Minister D. Jayakumar said they "have decided to lead AIADMK without the influence of T.T.V. Dhinakaran and his family."
This has been taken after consulting party office bearers and lawmakers, said Mr. Jayakumar. People of Tamil Nadu also wish the same, he added.
We want unity, no division in party, IT minister Manikandan said.
The minister also said a committee will hold talks with Mr. Panneerselvam's camp to chalk out plans for merger.
The announcement came after the minister held a meeting with Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami.
O. Panneerselvam rules out merger if Sasikala remains in the party
Earlier in the day, former Chief Minister, O. Panneerselvam, ruled out the merger of the two factions of the AIADMK if V.K. Sasikala remains in a united party. He demanded the ouster of her family, including T.T.V. Dhinakaran, from the AIADMK.
The AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) leader said, "MGR and Amma were always against family rule. So, we will not rest until the Sasikala family is thrown out of the AIADMK. Party should not be in the hands of a family."
Earlier, sources in his camp said talks with the other camp would be only with conditions. "This talk of 'no conditions' is all bunkum," they added.
Mr. Panneerselvam made it clear that he cannot go back on his core demand of a probe into the 'mysterious' death of the former Chief Minsiter, Jayalalithaa. "We will continue our demand for a CBI inquiry into the sudden demise of Jayalalithaa."
Team formed for talks with OPS camp: Sengottaiyan
"A team has been formed for talks with the O. Pannerselvam camp for a possible merger", says School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan.
He held discussions with AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary Dhinakaran at the latter's residence in Chennai.
Power struggle in TN is entirely expected: Muralidhar Rao
The BJP has distanced itself from the unfolding drama within the two factions of the AIADMK saying that blaming the BJP or even the Central government was without any logic despite the fact that deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha flew in to Delhi last night and is said to be in touch with party leaders. Read more
MLAs meet on board ''INS Chennai''
On board ''INS Chennai'', Finance Minister Jayakumar refused to attach any significance to an MLAs meeting.
Earlier in the morning, responding to Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisami's call, legislators of the AIADMK AMMA assembled on board ''INS Chennai'' and ''INS Sumedha'' for a 'day at sea' event.
Meetings on Monday
Late on Monday evening, as many as 26 Ministers met at Electricity Minister Thangamani's official residence on Greenways Road in Chennai.
Another meeting was held at the bungalow of Housing Minister Udumalai Radhakrishnan, in which a few Ministers participated. Later, they joined the meeting at Mr. Thangamani's residence.
Dhinakaran booked
Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police booked Mr. Dhinakaran for allegedly attempting to bribe Election Commission officials to get the 'Two Leaves' symbol for his party.
Mr. Dhinakaran visits Bengaluru to visit his aunt and party's general secretary Sasikala, who is lodged at the Parapana Aghrahara prison.
Mr. Dhinakaran has denied the charge.
The Delhi Police is expected to visit Chennai on Tuesday for further probe.
Ready to sit and talk: OPS
Mr. Panneerselvam has expressed the confidence that the Sasikala faction leaders would approach him for merger talks.
On speculations about the merger of the two AIADMK factions and that he was going to be made “general secretary,” he said no one has approached him for it so far.
“If approached, we are ready to sit and talk and I have confidence that they [leaders] will come [for talks],” he told reporters at the airport.
We welcome OPS' call: Jayakumar
Welcoming Mr. Panneerselvam's ''call'' for unity, Mr. Jayakumar said the AIADMK lawmakers discussed ways to unite the party and get back the 'Two Leaves' symbol frozen by the Election Commission.
Mr. Jayakumar denied rumours that Sasikala and Mr. Dhinakaran have resigned from the party.
''This is like a sibling fight. We'll join hands soon'', he said. All 128 AIADMK MLAs are staying united and favour a merger.
Thambidurai for Delhi
Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha M. Thambidurai left for New Delhi on Monday evening.
Mr. Thambidurai may meet Election Commission officials regarding the tussle over the ''Two Leaves'' symbol.
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Mr. Thambidurai meet twice fuelling speculations.
When Mr. Thambidurai spoke to media at the Secretariat, he too welcomed Mr. Panneerselvam's remarks.
Going by the footage shown on television channels, women Ministers appeared to have stayed away from both the meetings. But the prominent absentee was Mr. Palanisami. Mr. Jayakumar, S.P. Velumani and C. Ve Shanmugam answered queries from journalists.
The Ministers said they would discuss the possibility of merger with OPS camp after Mr. Dhinakaran comes back to Chennai.
The women ministers too joined the meeting at Mr. Thangamani's residence and thus began the second round of discussion. Close to midnight, the Ministers were seen leaving Mr. Thangamani's residence.
