Ministers fear, want to keep me out of party: Dinakaran

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AIADMK's Deputy General Secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran on Wednesday said the state ministers have decided to keep him out of the party due to some fear.

Speaking to reporters here he said: "Due to some unknown fear, the ministers have taken the decision."

Dinakaran, who is AIADMK General Secretary V.K.Sasikala's nephew, added that he does not know what the ministers are fearing and the U-turn in their stand has happened in a matter of three days.

He also said as everybody decided to keep him out of the party affairs, he has decided to stay out.

Dinakaran said Sasikala appointed him as the Deputy General Secretary and he would resign his post only after discussing it with her.

In a sudden turn of events, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister D. Jayakumar on Tuesday announced that the state ministers have decided to keep out jailed AIADMK leader Sasikala, her nephew Dinakaran and his family out of the party.

When queried about the General Secretary's position, Jayakumar said a committee will be formed to run the party.

Sasikala was elected as the AIADMK's General Secretary in December 2016.

Jayakumar, who made the announcement after meeting Chief Minister K. Palaniswami, told reporters that the AIADMK was bowing to the wishes of party cadres, people, lawmakers, ministers and others to keep Dinakaran and his family members out of the party.

"We will run the party and the government," Jayakumar said. "We want to save the party and the government from the clutches of one family."

According to Dinakaran those who are in public life should not have any fear.

Dinakaran said he would not take any hasty decision and added that he would not act in any way that could harm the party and the government.

"I don't have any expectations from the party or the government," Dinakaran added.

Earlier in the day, speaking to a news channel in New Delhi LOk Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai urged Dinakaran to respect the party's decision.

He also said the families of Dinakaran and Sasikala had undergone sufferings and also contributed to the party's growth.

The AIADMK split into two after late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's death. One faction is led by Sasikala and the other by former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam.

The Panneerselvam camp is discussing the latest developments.

--IANS

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