AIADMK: Sasikala faction forms to hold merger talks with Panneerselvam

AIADMK MLAs board INS Chennai and venture into sea

After a late evening meeting, V K Sasikala faction has formed a group to hold talks with former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and his supporters, which will pave way for the merger of two groups.

Meanwhile, AIADMK (Amma) MLAs and ministers who are in Sasikala faction and ruling the state now, have boarded INS Chennai and ventured into a sea for brief sailing.

Sasikala and Dinakaran controlled AIADMK (Amma) and Panneerselvam have confirmed that a group has been formed to hold talks with Panneerselvam.

“We don't want the party and power to be in one family hands, our stand continues,” said Panneerselvam, who agreed to hold talks with AIADMK (Amma) without any conditions. According to him, the revolt is only against Sasikala and family.

The close and trusted aide of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam is expected to reach Chennai this afternoon to hold talks with Sasikala faction.

Political experts say that AIADMK has understood that for the welfare of the party and its future, it is imperative they stay united.

Meanwhile, 124 AIADMK MLAs have gathered on war ship INS Chennai and ventured into the Sea.

Tuesday morning developments comes hours after senior ministers of AIADMK  Amma met Monday night to discuss on various issues, including O Panneerselvam's comment to stay united. However Chief Minister E Palanisamy was not present in the meeting. AIADMK Deputy General Secretary Dinakaran was away in Bengaluru to meet his imprisoned aunt Sasikala.

The meeting was held at Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister S P Thangamani's house and lasted for nearly two hours. 

This development came after the Delhi Police booked AIADMK general secretary TTV Dinakaran on charges of bribing the Election Commission officials to claim the 'Two Leaves' symbol.

The Crime Branch recovered approximately Rs. 1.3 crore from alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

Dinakaran, who is considered to be a close Sasikala aide, later said that he was ready to legally face any summons from the Delhi Police. When asked if Sasikala would quit from the party in case the merger took place, Jayakumar said, "We have no information regarding this.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha M Thambidurai had said there would be disputes in a democracy and everyone should stand united to fulfil the dreams of the late party chief J Jayalalithaa.