AIADMK rules out change in CM, Palaniswami to stay

Denying speculations suggesting that O. Panneerselvam would be made the Chief Minister, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Wednesday said there is no question of change as the 124 MLAs voted in favour of incumbent E. Palaniswami.

"124 MLAs voted for Palaniswami, therefore, there is no question of CM change," AIADMK leader M. Thambidurai responded to a poser on making Panneerselvam the Chief Minister after merger.

Hours after Panneerselvam put forth certain conditions for the merger of the two factions, the AIADMK earlier on Tuesday announced the ouster of V.K. Sasikala and her family from the party.

"We have decided to delink TTV Dinakaran and his family from the party, a committee will run the party. This is a unanimous decision from the cadre" Tamil Nadu Health Minister D Jayakumar told the media here.

Palanisamy later said Panneerselvam's demand is not something new, adding this has been their position from day one.

"There is no compromise on that. This is not something we have brought up. Whatever is to be investigated that will be done by the investigative agency," he added.

He further said Sasikala and her family has to be kept away from the party directly or indirectly.

"They should not have any role within the party," he asserted.

Demanding the ouster of Sasikala and her nephew from the AIADMK, Panneerselvam told the media in Chennai earlier that the party should not be controlled by one family, adding it was nothing short of treason to allow the former to control the party's affairs.

He said that he has sent a petition to the Election Commission to declare Sasikala's appointment as AIADMK general secretary 'illegal'.

"During the election campaigning in R.K. Nagar, many malpractices were done and Rs. 4000 were offered to each voter. We have submitted all this to the Election Commission yesterday and asked to inquire into the matter," Panneerselvam said.

He further said that Dinakaran, who was not even a member of the party till Jayalalithaa's demise, is tarnishing the AIADMK's image and added it won't be tolerated.

"Judicial probe into Jayalalithaa's death is our first demand. Sasikala's appointment as the general secretary is illegal and we will not accept it. Family politics will not be accepted," he asserted.

Both factions have constituted two committees to mull the merger.