The dispute between the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam factions led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and sidelined leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran over who had the authority to take possession of the 13.5-kg gold armour meant for adorning the Muthuramalinga Thevar statue ahead of the Thevar Jayanthi celebrations in Pasumpon village has been resolved.
The Madurai District Collector received it from the nationalised bank where it was deposited and handed it over to the Ramanathapuram District Collector.
The armour was donated by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa a few years ago and was kept in the safe custody of the bank.
Following a split in the AIADMK after Jayalalithaa’s death, the bank authorities were unclear as to who should be given possession of the armour.
On Friday, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, flanked by four Ministers, told reporters that in the larger public interest it was agreed that the armour would be handed over to the District Collectors.
Though he maintained that he had all documents in his favour authorising to receive the gold armour from the bank, the government was not keen on making it an issue.
Hence, it agreed to the proposal to hand it over to the Collectors. They will deposit the armour back in the bank locker by November 1, he replied.
When asked about the ongoing tussle for the two-leaves symbol pending before the poll panel, Mr. Panneerselvam, without mentioning Mr. Dhinakaran or V.K. Sasikala’s name, said that a permanent solution to all such bickering would soon come.
