20 AIADMK Ministers Oust Sasikala, TTV Dhinakaran From Party
“We appreciate OPS’s offer to merge. We spoke about how to function if we merge,” TN minister Jayakumar said.
- Sasikala, her nephew TTV Dhinakaran removed from the ruling AIADMK
- Teams of senior ministers have been formed for the merger of the two AIADMK factions
- Panneerselvam has welcomed the idea of the merger, but has listed his conditions
- Delhi Police booked TTV Dhinakaran on charges of bribing EC officials to get the ‘two leaves’ symbol
Watch this space for all the live updates.
Sasikala, TTV Dhinakaran Ousted From AIADMK
Ahead of the likely merger between OPS and EPS camp, 20 AIADMK ministers have ousted Sasikala, TTV Dhinakaran and her family members from the party on Tuesday.
Speaking to the media, Tamil Nadu’s Finance Minister D Jayakumar said:
However, OPS loyalist C Ponnaiyan said their camp has not been officially intimated of the development.
Sasikala, Dhinakaran Should be Out of the Party: KC Palanisamy
KC Palanisamy, Former AIADMK MP from the OPS faction said that it is clear that Sasikala and Dhinakaran should be out of the party. He said that theirs was the true AIADMK. He went on to say that Sasikala and Dhinakaran should not be associated with the party directly or indirectly.
The Party Should Not Be in the Hand of One Family: OPS
O Panneerselvam addressed the media on Tuesday and listed his conditions on the merger.
His first condition was to start a judicial probe over Jayalalithaa’s death. He called the appointment of Sasikala as general secretary illegal.
He also questioned the bribing of voters in RK Nagar and asked for an enquiry in the matter. He also advocated for the dynasty politics to end.
Sasikala Camp Has a Compromise Formula, but OPS Will Not Budge
The News Minute reported that the Sasikala camp has proposed a compromise formula. However, sources in the O Panneerselvam camp say that they will not agree to that formula.
According to sources, this is what the Sasikala camp has suggested: They want Sasikala to remain the interim General Secretary of the party. TTV Dhinakaran will step down as the Deputy General Secretary of the party and OPS will become the Deputy GS. Cabinet posts will be given to OPS and other senior leaders in the OPS camp like Mafoi Pandiarajan. Edappadi Palanisamy will continue to be the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
This formula is not going down well at all with the OPS camp.
No Formal Talks of Merger Yet: Sengottaiyan
Minister for School Education in Tamil Nadu, K Sengottiyan, said that there has been no formal talk between the EPS and OPS faction regarding the merger of the AIADMK. Addressing the media on Tuesday, Sengottiyan, who is from the Sasikala camp, remained silent on whether TTV Dhinakaran will be stepping down as the party Deputy General Secretary.
However, he said that Dhinakaran had heard the updates and welcomed OPS’ statement.
Core Issue Remains Retrieving 'Two Leaves' Symbol: TN Minister
Tamil Nadu Minister Sellur Raju said that the core issue for both factions remains the retrieval of the 'two leaves' symbol. In order retrieve it, both factions must work in unison, he said.
Tamil Nadu Forest Minister C Srinivasan also addressed the media and said that he was happy about the merger decision.
Delhi Police Defers Chennai Visit
Delhi Police on Tuesday deferred its Chennai visit. Police said that the probe in Delhi needed to be completed first.
Police have filed an FIR on the basis of audio recording, and they have enough evidence against TTV, says Thanthi, quoting Delhi police sources.
Sasikala's Nine-Member Team For Patch-Up Talks
A nine-member team has been formed by the Sasikala camp to speak to the OPS camp, and the team includes leaders like Thangamani, Dindigul Srinivasan, Jayakumar, Vaithilingam, Velumani, PV Shanmugam.
No Politics in MLAs' meet Onboard INS Chennai, Says Jayakumar
Finance Minister Jayakumar refuses to attach any significance to the MLAs' meet onboard INS Chennai.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, responding to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami’s call to party MLAs to pay a visit to INS Chennai, MLAs of the AIADMK Amma faction assembled onboard INS Chennai and INS Sumedha for a 'day at sea' event.
Consensus Among 123 MLAs to Unite AIADMK: Jayakumar
Reacting to rumours that Sasikala has tendered her resignation as party general secretary, Jayakumar said:
He said that there was consensus among 123 MLAs to unite both factions.
Discussed Keeping Party Together: Minister Jayakumar Hints at Merger
Speaking to reporters, Tamil Nadu minister Jayakumar said:
Hinting at a possible merger, he said:
He said that by staying together “under Amma’s golden rule”, the party members can retrieve the party symbol.
Earlier, the EC had frozen the ‘leaves’ symbol after a tug of war ensued between the two factions of AIADMK.
25 TN Ministers Gather at Thangamani's Residence
Tamil Nadu ministers gathered at AIADMK minister Thangamani’s residence. At least 25 Tamil Nadu ministers hold an emergency meeting.
The Hindu quoted Thangamani as saying:
CM Palanisamy Calls for a Meeting of All Lawmakers
Speculations about a patch-up between the two warring AIADMK factions touched a new high on Monday with Chief Minister K Palanisamy calling all lawmakers supporting him on Tuesday.
The AIADMK has been divided into two camps soon after its leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s death in December 2016.
Her closest aide, VK 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 TTV Dhinakaran as the party’s Deputy General Secretary.
Panneerselvam Welcomes Idea of Merger
Former Chief Minister and leader of AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi Amma – O Panneerselvam – on Monday welcomed the idea of a merger of the two factions.
He said talks will be held if somebody comes up with the plan to merge the two factions, adding that their revolt is only against Sasikala and family.
Chandrashekhar Is Accused in Several Cheating Cases: Police
Sukesh Chandrashekhar, who was arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly taking money from AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran to bribe Election Commission officials in getting his party the AIADMK’s poll symbol of ‘two leaves’, is an accused in several cheating cases.
He is also known as a flamboyant conman with a fetish for luxury cars.
He claimed that he has known AIADMK Amma leader TTV Dhinakaran for the last four years and had told him that he would get a favourable verdict from the EC in the party symbol case, the officer said.
Chandrashekhar had allegedly told Dhinakaran that he has contacts in the EC and they will help the Sasikala faction get the AIADMK’s poll symbol of ‘two leaves’ in the by-election to the RK Nagar Assembly seat in Tamil Nadu.
Police Book Dhinakaran for Trying to Bribe EC to Retain Election Symbol
Delhi Police on Monday booked AIADMK Amma leader TTV Dhinakaran for allegedly trying to bribe an Election Commission official in a failed bid to obtain the coveted ‘two-leaves’ party symbol for his faction.
No arrest warrant has been issued against Dhinakaran. But police have in their custody Sukesh Chandrasekhar, the alleged middleman who was picked up from a 5-star hotel in New Delhi on Sunday, a senior police official said.
The developments add to the woes of the AIADMK Amma faction, whose leader VK Sasikala – Dhinakaran’s aunt – is in a Bengaluru jail in a disproportionate assets case.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)