AIADMK legislators continue to meet Dinakaran on Tuesday

Several lawmakers of Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK faction on Tuesday met party Deputy General Secretary T.T.V.Dinakaran and discussed party affairs, said party leaders.

Former law maker V.P. Kalairajan told reporters that legislators are meeting Dinakaran, who continues to be the party's Deputy General Secretary.

Dinakaran, who had been arrested in New Delhi in a case of trying to bribe Election Commission officials with Rs 50 crore for allot the "two leaves" symbol to the faction led by party General Secretary V.K.Sasikala, was released on bail by a court recently.

During the past two days, around 25 AIADMK legislators have met Dinakaran at his residence leading to impression the formation of third group in the ruling party, apart from those led by former Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam and another led by current Chief Minister K.Palaniswami.

Meanwhile Palaniswami also met several party legislators on Tuesday.

On Monday the ruling AIADMK faction reiterated that they are firm on the decision to sideline jailed Sasikala and her nephew Dinakaran from the party.

After presiding over a meeting of ministers at the Secretariat here on Monday, Finance Minister D. Jayakumar said that his faction, led by Chief Minister Palaniswami, are firm on keeping away from both of them.

Pointing out that Dinkaran himself stated that he would stay away from party activities, Jayakumar urged him to "stick to his words".

The minister's statement came just few hours after Dinakaran asserted that he would surely engage in party work and accused senior leaders of not advancing the initiative for merger between the two rival AIADMK groups.

The other AIADMK group, led by former Panneerselvam, still insist that a merger is possible only if Sasikala and Dinakaran are officially removed from the party.

--IANS

vj/vd