AIADMK camps to merge? Tamil Nadu ministers hold late night meet

O Panneerselvam has welcomed the idea of a merger

Senior Tamil Nadu Ministers are holding urgent consultations here tonight amid talk of merger of the rival All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) factions led by V K Sasikala and T T V Dhinakaran and former chief minister O Panneerselvam.

The unscheduled late night meet, chaired by Electricity Minister K Thangamani, is underway at his official residence at the Greenways Road here.

Ministers, including Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, who is under the Income Tax scanner, are present at the meeting. Chief Minister K Palaniswami is not attending the meet, party sources said.

Vijayabaskar's presence is significant as it was speculated that his resignation was demanded by some senior Ministers.

The meeting began about an hour ago, and the Ministers are expected to address the media about the outcome after the conclusion of the deliberations.

Speculations about a patch-up between the two warring AIADMK factions touched a new high on Monday with Chief Minister Palaniswami calling all lawmakers supporting him here on Tuesday.

"The chief minister has called all legislators supporting him here on Tuesday in connection with warship INS Chennai function. There will also be a meeting of the legislators," an AIADMK lawmaker told IANS.

The AIADMK had been divided into two camps soon after the demise of its leader and then Tamil Nadu chief minister J  Jayalalithaa's in December 2016.

Her closest aide, V K Sasikala, was named the new party chief but was jailed within weeks after the Supreme Court found her guilty of corruption.

Before going to jail, Sasikala had appointed her nephew T T V Dinakaran as the party's deputy general secretary.

The other faction is led by O Panneerselvam, who was also close to Jayalalithaa and used to stand in for her as chief minister. The two factions have been fighting over ownership of the AIADMK.

The battle reached the Election Commission (EC), which gave the two factions new symbols and ordered a freeze over the "two leaves" symbol on March 23.

The Delhi Police on Monday registered an FIR against Dinakaran and his aide Sukesh Chandrasekar for allegedly attempting to bribe EC officials for a favourable order in the election symbol compliant.

Meanwhile, Panneerselvam on Monday welcomed the idea of a merger of the two factions.

Panneerselvam said talks will be held if somebody comes with the plan to merge the two factions, adding that their revolt is only against Sasikala and her family.

Welcoming Panneerselvam's remarks, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai told reporters that there may be disputes in a democracy and everyone should stand united to fulfil the dreams of Jayalalithaa.

Thambidurai met Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Monday which added fuel to the merger speculation.

Members of the Panneerselvam camp told IANS that talks are on between the leaders of both camps towards unification.