AIADMK MP stands by 'discontent' remarks; Senior leader denies

AIADMK MP V Maitreyan today stuck to his remarks about discontent in party ranks post the merger of the factions led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his now deputy O Panneerselvam even as another senior leader denied any differences.
"I have reflected the feelings of the majority of the grassroots level workers," Maitreyan, who was with the Panneerselvam camp prior to the merger, said in a Facebook post.
Alluding to his senior colleague and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai's reaction, Maitreyan said his remarks were not mere "personal comments."
Thambidurai "termed my Facebook post made yesterday as my personal comments. This is not my personal comment," he said.

However, senior party leader and former minister C Ponnaiyan, who was also in the Panneerselvam faction prior to the merger, denied any differences in the unified party.
Asked if Panneerselvam's supporters were being ignored, he told reporters "it is not proper to say so".

"With the blessings of MGR (party founder, the late MG Ramachandran) and Amma (late J Jayalalithaa), the party is functioning unitedly," Ponnaiyan told reporters at Tuticorin.
Yesterday, Maitreyan indicated possible discontent between followers of Palaniswami and Panneerselvam.
"It has been three months now since the merger of EPS-OPS faction. Months are passing by, what about hearts?," he said.

However, senior leader and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar yesterday denied any kind of discontent among the party ranks.
"There is consensus and unity to take forward the party founded by the late MGR and nurtured by Amma," he had said.
He also wanted differences, if any, to be discussed within the party.
On various occasions, the leaders of the two factions have maintained they no longer have differences.
In October, Panneerselvam, after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, said he had no differences with Palaniswami and all decisions were taken in consultation.
Following Jayalalithaa's death in December last year, the party split into two factions led by Panneerselvam and V K Sasikala and both staked claim to the party symbol and name.

The dispute is pending before the Election Commission.
A large group of ministers and MLAs led by the chief minister revolted against jailed Sasikala and announced merger of the two factions in August, following which she was removed as general secretary by a general council meeting.