The recent call by AIADMK (Sasikala) deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran to dissidents to return to the party fold is unlikely to have immediate takers.
In fact, leaders of the AIADMK (OPS) faction have questioned the locus standi of Mr. T.T.V. Dinakaran to extend an olive branch to them.
“Who is he [Mr. Dinakaran] to invite us to come back? He is not even a member of the party, and as it is, his appointment as deputy general secretary is in question, since it was made by someone [Sasikala] whose election as general secretary itself is being scrutinised (by the Election Commission of India). He has no right to call us back,” says former Minister K. P. Munusamy. He is now a vocal supporter of Mr. Panneerselvam.
Echoing his sentiment is AIADMK (OPS) presidium chairman E. Madhusudhanan. “He [Dinakaran] was removed by Amma from the party. For several years, Amma didn’t even turn and look at his face. And he is inviting us to come back,” says Mr. Madhusudhanan.
Asked about plans to consolidate the people’s support in the background of the impending local body polls, Mr. Madhusudhanan says the OPS faction would have one person to take responsibility for each of the districts.
