As the possibility of a patch-up brews between the O. Panneerselvam and Edappadi K. Palaniswami camps of the AIADMK, the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) faction has yet again put off its protest planned against the State government.
The AIADMK (PTA) faction had planned to hold a protest demonstration against the Edappadi K. Palaniswami government on August 10, which was subsequently postponed to August 18. The protest was to be held seeking a total exemption of NEET, and condemn the failure of the State government to address the drinking water shortage and spread of dengue.
Now, the protest scheduled for August 18 in Chennai has also been put off. The faction had also planned to hold a public meeting of its functionaries, as part of the plan to hold such meetings across the State, in Pudukottai on August 19.
“We decided to call off the Pudukottai meeting today (Wednesday) morning due to heavy rains there. The place where the meeting was planned to be held is also quite soggy. We won’t be able to put up the stage,” S. Semmalai, senior leader of the OPS camp told The Hindu.
The former minister insisted the protest and the public meeting were “only postponed. It has not been cancelled.”
When asked if the meetings have been postponed owing to talks being held with the EPS faction and a potential merger on the cards, Mr. Semmalai claimed it was not connected to any such development.
“The Pudukottai meeting was scheduled for August 19. If the protest in Chennai was held on 18th, all the office bearers would have been present here. It would have been difficult for them to make it to the meeting in Pudukottai the next day. The rains too have compounded the problem,” he said.
Mr. Semmalai however added that a new date will be fixed for these meetings. “Also, the meeting on August 28 in Cuddalore will go on as planned,” he said.
“Not vindictive”
To a query on what would happen after a potential merger and if Mr Panneerselvam would be open to working with the three ministers he named during his Marina protest, Mr. Semmalai said, “Our leader is not a vindictive person. Whoever is responsible for him stepping down, he won’t take vengeance. He won’t consider them as rivals”.
Mr. Panneerselvam had named three ministers – C. Vijayabhaskar, R.B. Udayakumar and O.S. Manian – alleging that they had played a key role in him being asked to step down as CM.
“It is the prerogative of the Chief Minister to take the right decision. OPS won’t put any conditions (to oust them). But the merger can happen only after our two conditions are met, which are an inquiry into Jayalalithaa’s death and the complete ouster of Sasikala and her family from the party”, he said.
