With the stalemate over beginning the talks for merger with the ruling AIADMK (Amma) continuing, the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) camp wants “at least an acknowledgement of some sort” that Sasikala and her family will be kept away from the party, for the talks to begin. The party will also reach out to the people of the State while undertaking both “developmental and agitational politics”, ‘Ma Foi’ K. Pandiarajan, a member of O. Panneerselvam’s (OPS) camp told The Hindu in an interview. Excerpts:
The proposed talks seem to have been stalled on the issue of Sasikala and her family’s ouster and a CBI enquiry into Jayalalithaa’s death. What do you expect the other camp to do?
Initially itself, when the invitation for talks came from them, we responded with these preconditions. We, in good faith, announced a list of people for conducting the talks from our side. But a number of Ministers are making all kinds of statements, some of them in ‘derisive tone’. Yesterday, Jayakumar (Finance Minister) offered his post to OPS. Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam said their committee (to hold negotiations) was to be formally appointed. Another person said the door of the party headquarters was open to us at any time. They are making needless statements in the media and looks like they are not keen on talks. There is a sense of general rambling among them and it seems like they do not want to engage in a proper way of negotiation.
You are insisting on a CBI enquiry…
They are saying the same thing repeatedly that a PIL is being heard by the High Court on the issue of Jayalalithaa’s death and that needs to be resolved first. But, what we want is the State to recommend to the Centre a CBI enquiry. The judicial process will not be affected in any way because of this.
Your camp wants a formal ouster of Sasikala and others. Are you expecting an announcement on the official letterhead of the party?
There has been no meaningful response to this demand from them. They said the family will be kept away. What does this “keeping away” mean? They can at least simply acknowledge the steps taken by our presidium chairman Mr. Madhusudhanan and treasurer Mr. Panneerselvam.
Mr. Madhusudhanan had expelled Sasikala and Dhinakaran from the party and the very simple thing they (EPS faction) can do is to acknowledge that. But it looks like they don’t want to do that? Even now after their statement, the party mouthpiece Dr. Namadhu MGR still has the names of Sasikala and Dhinakaran. There has been no move to delink them from the party.
Are there other demands like OPS for CM and general secretary (GS), or a deal with EPS as CM and OPS as GS?
It is too premature for all this. We have not engaged in any conversation with the other group. The preconditions have to be fulfilled. Once talks begin in an earnest manner, we will see what to take forward. That doesn’t exclude other issues.
So the stalemate will continue?
The local body polls would be conducted soon. You will see more action from our side. We will function as the true AIADMK. We will go to the people. The people are with us. Also, we are planning to celebrate the MGR birth centenary and we will do it well. We will also do both developmental and agitational politics going forward. Of the 1.6 crore party cadre, at least 95% are with us.
