OPS-EPS merger 'business agreement between power hungry people': Dinakaran

Miffed with the merger of EPS and OPS factions of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), party leader TTV Dinakaran on Monday dubbed the merger a 'business agreement between power hungry people.'

Taking to Twitter, Dinakaran said, "What happened today is not a merger. It's just a business agreement between people who are power hungry and selfish. Only God knows how long this merger would last."

He further hit out at the EPS faction for joining hands with people responsible for freezing party's elections symbol 'Two Leaves'.

"EPS has now joined hands with people who were responsible for freezing two leave symbol. This itself shows their desperation for power," he said in a series of tweets.

Earlier in the day, the two warring factions of the AIADMK - one led by Chief Minister E. Palanisamy (EPS) and the other by OPS -led by former chief minister O. Panneerselvam announced a merger, citing that "MGR (M.G. Ramachandran) always wanted to see us united, not split."

The striking part of the merger is that EPS has taken a backseat in the party, declaring OPS as the convenor of the party. EPS will be the co-convenor.

Palanisamy will continue to be the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, while O. Panneerselvam (OPS) took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister under the merged AIADMK government in the state.

Disappointed over the move, Dinakaran's supporters in the AIADMK will also meet Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao on Tuesday.