Disqualified AIADMK legislators appear unwilling to accept the joint leadership of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and his deputy O. Panneerselvam, and are instead reposing their faith in Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran and his aunt V.K. Sasikala.
When asked about Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar’s invitation to the 18 disqualified legislators to return to the party fold, former Minister P. Palaniappan, who was elected to the Pappireddippatti constituency in Dharmapuri, asked, “Who is going to be the leader of the party?”
“Do you think those who are running the party now will be able to manage affairs once they are out of power?” he asked.
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According to him, the question of being offered a share in power, both in government and in the party structure, was secondary to the choice of leadership. In his assessment, Mr. Dhinakaran “has got all the required qualities — education, experience, exposure and competence” to run the party.
N.G. Parthiban, who was elected from Sholingur in Vellore district, said, “All of us [the 18 disqualified legislators] will abide by what Chinnamma [Sasikala] and the deputy general secretary [a post held by Mr. Dhinakaran in the AIADMK before the April 2017 rebellion] say.”
He added, “Those who want us back in the party should talk to them [Sasikala and Mr. Dhinakaran]. There is no meaning in talking to us or making offers to us.”
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