Efforts to unify the warring AIADMK (PTA) and AIADMK (Amma) camps is likely to get a final push from the latter on Monday with the likely sidelining of jailed “interim” general secretary V.K. Sasikala from the affairs of the ruling party by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and his supporters, according to senior members of the O. Panneerselvam camp. Till date, Mr. Palaniswami has not openly hit out at Sasikala, confining his camp’s actions to target only her nephew Mr. T.T.V. Dhinakaran.
Sources in the AIADMK (Amma) separately said that a meeting of senior party functionaries has been called for in the party head office on Monday. “Like the way they held a meeting earlier this month and arrived at the decision to pass a resolution against Mr. Dhinakaran, senior party leaders would hold a meeting,” a source said.
In such an eventuality, Mr. Dhinakaran might also seek to formalise a fresh split in the party forming a rebel group with his supporters.
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Leaders in both factions deemed Monday to be an auspicious day as it is a new moon day and apt for taking any good decision.
“All issues and demands raised by us have been met,” said a senior leader of the AIADMK (PTA) adding an agreement has been reached on the issue of Sasikala’s continuance as “interim” general secretary of the party.
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“We have arrived at a way to tackle the issue (of Sasikala). We have found a way to solve it. This demand too has been almost fulfilled,” he added.
It is understood that once the AIADMK (Amma) decides on the issue of Sasikala’s ouster, they might withdraw the affidavits submitted to the Election Commission expressing their support to her appointment as “interim” general secretary.
Separately, in multiple interactions with the media on Sunday, AIADMK (PTA) founder O Panneerselvam also said that talks on merger were progressing well and “a good conclusion will be reached very soon”.
Another leader of the faction claimed that an announcement on a merger could be expected on Monday.
Meanwhile, after returning from Rajapalayam on Sunday evening after paying tributes to Ondiveeran, Mr. Panneerselvam and other leaders visited a couple of temples in Chennai and offered prayers.
CBI inquiry
The OPS camp, according to sources, has also accepted the judicial inquiry ordered into Jayalalithaa’s death by the Chief Minister. “It is true that we were insisting on a CBI inquiry. But the inquiry by a retired judge is the first step in it. The judge, during the course of his inquiry, can order an investigation by the CBI, which the government will have to then recommend,” the senior leader contended.
Sources have also said that once the merger is complete, the unified AIADMK will convene a meeting and pass necessary resolutions to amend the bylaws of the party. There are plans to amend the bylaws to ensure that a working committee can run the party, with powers of the General Secretary vested with the leader of the working committee. One of the compromise formula offered to the AIADMK (PTA) faction is nominating Mr. Panneerselvam as leader of the working committee.
(With inputs from Dennis S. Jesudasan)