AIADMK merger: Sasikala, Dinakaran ouster first victory, says Panneerselvam

Dinakaran earlier said that he had decided to stay out

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Wednesday said the ouster of the rival AIADMK faction's two leaders was his faction's first victory in the "dharma yudh".

He was referring to the ruling AIADMK faction's decision to sideline now jailed General Secretary V.K. Sasikala and her nephew and Deputy General Secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran.

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister D. Jayakumar on Tuesday night announced that AIADMK ministers had decided to keep Sasikala, Dinakaran and their family members out of the party.

Jayakumar said a committee will be formed to run the party. Sasikala was elected the AIADMK General Secretary in December after Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa died.

Dinakaran earlier said that as everyone had decided to keep him out of party affairs, he had decided to stay out.

According to Panneerselvam, the war for justice would continue "till the main goal is achieved".

He reiterated that AIADMK founder and former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran and his successor Jayalalithaa led the party as a movement of cadres.

He said that after Jayalalithaa died, the AIADMK had gone into the hands of Sasikala's family.

"The war for justice is to retrieve the party from the clutches of that family."

Panneerselvam said both the factions would now hold talks for a merger of the AIADMK and a decision would be taken as per the wishes of party members.