Despite V.K. Sasikala not being in the picture and T.T.V. Dhinakaran ''stepping aside'', the two factions of the AIADMK, led by former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisami, are caught in a wrangling on the issue of merger.
Here are the updates:
‘No conditions for talks’
Rajya Sabha MP R. Vathilingam (centre) of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswamy’s camp speaks to the media in Chennai on Thursday.
The faction led by Mr. Palanisami tells the rival group that it is ready for unconditional talks and a panel has been formed for such negotiations.
Rajya Sabha member R. Vaithilingam says they have not put forward any condition for talks. Law Minister C. Ve. Shanmugam of the same camp says everyone should rise above personal interests for the party's welfare.
We too seek probe into Jayalalthaa's death: MLA
Dhinakaran supporter and Andipatti MLA Thangatamilselvan said the OPS camp should stop casting aspersions on Dhinakaran’s “magnanimous move” to step aside.
The Panneerselvam camp had alleged that Dhinakaran stepping aside from the party post was a drama.
Mr. Thangatamilselvan said they also demand a probe into former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s death as they wanted to know about Mr. Paneerselvam’s role during her hospitalisation.
Mr. Thangatamilselvan is a political rival of Mr. Panneerselvam in Theni district, their home turf.
Pannerselvam camp lashes out at Edappadi group
O. Paneerselvam camp leader K.P. Munusamy speaks to the media in Chennai on Thursday.
The Panneerselvam side has demanded the outright expulsion of Sasikala and Dhinakaran from the party and the withdrawal from the Election Commission of the affidavits supporting their appointment as party general secretary and deputy general secretary respectively. It also demanded that the government ask for a CBI probe into Ms. Jayalalithaa’s death.
After a meeting of legislators supporting Mr. Panneerselvam, K.P. Munusamy lashes out at Finance Minister Jayakumar for his comment on Mr. Panneerselvam and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Thambi Durai.
"We want a CBI enquiry into Jayalalithaa's death. No demands have been placed before the other faction, except that of Sasikala family ouster and Jayalalithaa death enquiry." he said.
"Our demand is not for the post of CM for OPS. Our demand is CBI enquiry, the State government should recommend for it," he said.
"We want Sasikala's family to be completely sent out of the party. The people and 1.5 crore cadre of the AIADMK want OPS as general secretary. They'll make him contest for the post," he added.
Thambi Durai calls on Governor
Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambi Durai
Earlier in the day, Mr. Thambi Durai called on Tamil Nadu Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao in the Raj Bhavan. "It was just a courtesy visit, no politics was discussed," he said.
While talks are yet to begin between the two sides, the OPS camp expects the fulfilment of the promise made by ministers that Sasikala and Dhinakaran will be kept away from the party.
While claiming that there were “some fears” among the Ministers that made them revolt against him, Dhinakaran on Wednesday said he was not against the merger of the two factions.
