Tamil Nadu CM Forms Panel to Hold Merger Talks With Panneerselvam
Talks of a merger between both the AIADMK factions might be held today.
- Tamil Nadu CM creates seven-member committee to hold talks with OPS
- OPS camp says no merger talks till Sasikala, Dhinakaran submit their resignations
- Dhinakaran has been asked to appear before Delhi Police on Saturday in the EC bribery case
- Ruling AIADMK ousts VK Sasikala and party’s Deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran
- Possibility of a merger between the two AIADMK factions on cards
- OPS claims “first victory” after Sasikala, Dhinakaran’s expulsion
- Dhinakaran said he “stepped aside” from his post in interest of the party
Tamil Nadu CM Forms Panel to Hold Talks With OPS Faction
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palanisamy on Friday formed a seven-member committee to hold merger talks with the O Panneerselvam faction.
It will be headed by Rajya Sabha MP R Vaithilingam and includes ministers C Sreenivasan, KA Sengottaiyan, D Jayakumar, among others.
According to CNN-News18, the ruling AIADMK is ready for a CBI probe into former CM Jayalalithaa’s death, which was also one of Panneerselvam camp’s demands ahead of a merger.
It also said that Palanisamy is likely to retain his CM chair, while Panneerselvam may hold the party’s general secretary post.
'No Talks Till Sasikala, Dhinakaran Submit Resignations'
On Thursday, following a meeting of MLAs and MPs, who pledged allegiance to former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, senior leader KP Munusamy announced that there could be no talks until Sasikala and TTV Dhinakaran submitted their resignations.
The camp also demanded that the EPS faction inform the Election Commission that Sasikala and Dhinakaran no longer head the party, and that the state government push for a CBI-led investigation into Jayalalithaa’s death.
In response, the rival faction said it has no conditions to start talks for the merger.
Dhinakaran Asked to Appear Before Delhi Police on 22 April
TTV Dhinakaran has been asked to appear before the Crime Branch of Delhi Police on Saturday in a case of alleged bribery to EC officials for retrieving the party’s ‘two leaves’ symbol.
The Delhi Police had on Wednesday night served summons to him in the case.
Assistant Commissioner Sanjay and another official served the summons to Dhinakaran at his Besant Nagar residence in Chennai.
Charges Framed Against Dhinakaran in FERA Case
An economic offences court on Wednesday framed charges against Dhinakaran in a FERA violation case as the Madras High Court refused to quash it along with another similar case.
Justice V Bharathidasan refused to call back the two FERA violation cases against the AIADMK leader, that the judge had remitted earlier to the economic offences court for trial.
Justice Bharathidasan before whom Dhinakaran’s recall plea came up for hearing on Wednesday, made it clear that the order cannot be recalled “as it never suffered nullity”. At this, the counsel for Dhinakaran sought withdrawal of the recall plea, which was allowed to be withdrawn as “dismissed”.
The economic offences court is likely to frame charges against him in the second FERA case pertaining to Barclay’s Bank, where Dhinakaran has been charged with transferring around Rs 37.6 crore illegally.
AIADMK MLAs Back E Palanisamy for CM
Speaking to the media, M Thambidurai of the AIADMK has said that E Palanisamy enjoys the support of 124 MLAs and therefore there is no question of change of CM.
TTV Dhinakaran Thanks Party Cadres for Support
After his ouster from the AIADMK, TTV Dhinakaran on Wednesday thanked his supporters for standing by him during the intense power struggle within the party. Speaking to the media he said:
Sasikala and Family's Ouster is Our First Victory: OPS
While addressing the media, AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi chief O Panneerselvam said that the expulsion of TTV Dhinakaran and VK Sasikala from all organisational posts of AIADMK Amma is the “first victory” of his “dharma yudh” against them.
On the question of a merger between both factions, OPS said:
MLAs' Meet Not Show of Strength, Says Dhinakaran
After AIADMK leaders on Tuesday night announced the ouster of Dhinakaran, he said that he “stepped aside” on Tuesday night in the interest of the party and made it clear that the MLAs’ meet called by him was not a show of strength.
On Delhi Police issuing a lookout notice against him, he said that his passport has been with the government for the last 20 years.
Dhinkaran also said that he has no problem with the possible merger of AIADMK factions if it benefits the party and that he has “no regrets on being sidelined”.
AIADMK's Issue is an Internal Matter, Says Venkaiah Naidu
Calling it an “internal matter”, BJP leader and Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday said that “neither the BJP nor the Central government has any role or has any interest in what is happening within the AIADMK”.
Delhi Police Issues Lookout Notice Against Dhinakaran
The immigration department on Wednesday informed that Delhi Police has issued a lookout notice against Dhinakaran fearing he might flee the country.
Sasikala, Dhinakaran Ousted From AIADMK
In a dramatic turn of events, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palanisamy cabinet on Tuesday revolted against AIADMK Amma Deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran and their jailed leader Sasikala by keeping him and his family out of the party and the government.
Emerging from a “consultative” meeting chaired by Palanisamy, Finance Minister D Jayakumar declared that the “unanimous” decision was taken in tune of the aspirations of the party cadres and people.
He claimed it was the desire of all party cadres, top functionaries, district secretaries, MPs, MLAs, and the Ministers.
A committee will be formed soon to run the day-to-day affairs of the party, he said.
Replying to a question, Jayakumar, however, said the decision was not linked to the demand of rebel leader O Panneerselvam that party General Secretary VK Sasikala and her nephew Dhinakaran be kept away as a pre-condition for talks for merger of the rival factions.
FIR Against Dhinakaran After EC Bribing Allegations Emerge
Delhi Police lodged an FIR against TTV Dhinakaran for allegedly trying to bribe the Election Commission with Rs 50 crore in order to obtain the coveted ‘two leaves’ party symbol for the AIADMK Amma faction.
He was booked on the basis of audio recording, and there is enough evidence against him, said Thanthi TV, quoting Delhi Police sources.
Delhi Police is likely to send a team to Chennai with summons for Dhinakaran.
This came after his alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrashekhar was arrested from a posh hotel in south Delhi on Sunday night. Police also said that the 28-year-old was in possession of Rs 1.3 crore cash that he claimed was meant for bribing the EC.
Dhinakaran has denied claims of having any links with the Sukesh.
(With inputs from PTI , ANI and The News Minute.)
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