Amid talk of a possible merger of the two factions of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday.
However, Mr. Palaniswami, who is also the headquarters secretary of the AIADMK (Amma), told reporters that he discussed only the issue of exempting Tamil Nadu from the purview of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). Saying that “No talks have been held between the two sides,” Mr. Palaniswami, however, hoped that the two factions would reunite.
Even as the Chief Minister was meeting Mr. Modi, the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) faction submitted an affidavit along with a copy of a resolution passed by the AIADMK (Amma) faction nullifying the appointment of T.T.V. Dhinakaran as deputy general secretary to the Election Commission to back its demands. The affidavit stated that the AIADMK (Amma) resolution on Thursday had, in effect, admitted its (AIADMK [Puratchi Thalaivi Amma]’s) position against the appointment of V.K. Sasikala as general secretary of the party.
This is the first time that a document helping the case of the Panneerselvam camp has been forthcoming from the other faction, pointing to “rather hectic attempts” to forge a merger.
Sources said Mr. Palaniswami returned to Chennai on Friday evening. Mr. Panneerselvam, who hasn’t yet sought an appointment with the Prime Minister, will remain in Delhi for the weekend.
(With inputs from T. Ramakrishnan in Chennai)
