Two days after AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary T.T.V Dhinakaran said he would resume active party work, nearly 20 ministers who met under the leadership of Tamil Nadu Finance Minister D. Jayakumar on Monday, reiterated that there would be no contact with Mr. Dhinakaran or his associates.
“We are clear, firm and determined in our decision taken on April 17 and we won't have any contact with them [Mr. Dhinakaran and his family members]. So, we are not dependent on them, they are not behind us. There is not even a grain of doubt. We are running the government without any interference from anyone who has his backing,” Mr. Jayakumar told journalists at the Secretariat premises in Chennai after the meeting.
Earlier on April 18, a day after all ministers had announced their decision to keep Mr. Dhinakaran and others away from the affairs of the party and the government, Mr. Dhinakaran had declared that he was stepping aside from the party. Recalling this, Mr. Jayakumar said: “He should stand by his decision.”
He said there was “absolutely no confusion” in the government under Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami. “We are all clear. Our party brothers are also clear,” Mr. Jayakumar said, flanked by several Ministers.
Mr. Jayakumar added: “We are not depending on them. So, as far as possible we are running the government under Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami without their influence. So, the present focus is only to ensure that this government lasts beyond its term in 2021.”
He cautioned that none from the party should have any contact with Mr Dhinakaran.
