Hours after the AIADMK (Amma) adopted a resolution against him, TTV Dhinakaran hit out at the ruling party, led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami. Calling the resolution terming his appointment as Deputy General Secretary, “against party rules,” TTV Dhinakaran said, “Only Sasikala has the authority to stop me from functioning. I am not bound by the decision of those who mushroomed overnight.”
Speaking to the media in Thanjavur, Dhinakaran pointed out that EPS and other ministers had passed the resolution on Thursday as they were afraid of his decision to go on a statewide tour to strengthen the party.
Issuing a veiled threat, TTV noted that using the AIADMK letterhead to pass a resolution against him goes against the Election Commission directive. “How can they use the AIADMK letterhead when there is a restraining order from the Election Commission? If the EC sees the misuse of the AIADMK letterhead by Edappadi Palaniswami, they will lose their ministerial posts,” TTV warned.
Using the IPC section 420 to label the chief minister a “cheat”, the former Rajya Sabha MP stated, “Misuse of the AIADMK letterhead is forgery and cheating. That's why I am calling them ‘420’.”
Reminding EPS that it was his aunt and AIADMK (Amma) General Secretary VK Sasikala who made him chief minister, TTV went on to state that he had the power to take action against those who had joined hands with the betrayers (OPS faction).
Dhinakaran also wryly noted that all those who had opposed him had campaigned with him during the RK Nagar bypolls, which were later cancelled.
‘Dhinakaran’s Appointment as Deputy General Secretary Invalid’
Following a meeting of senior AIADMK (Amma) members at the party headquarters in Chennai on Thursday, a resolution was adopted terming Dhinakaran’s appointment as Deputy General Secretary “invalid and against party rules.” The resolution also went on to declare the office bearer appointments made by TTV Dhinakaran last Friday as illegal, and urged party members to not abide by it.
The resolution by the EPS faction comes amidst speculation that a merger with former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s party AIADMK (PTA) is on the cards. However, Team OPS has since reiterated that unless Sasikala and her family are expelled from the party and a CBI probe into late CM Jayalalithaa’s death is ordered, there is no question of a merger of the two factions.
The statement came following a meeting between the CM and other senior leaders of the AIADMK (Amma) inlcuding ministers D Jayakumar, KA Sengottaiyan, P Thangamani, SP Velumani at the AIADMK Headquarters in Chennai on Thursday.
EPS, and OPS are expected to fly out to New Delhi later on Thursday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. The capital will provide the stage for the two warring sides to come together.
(This article was originally published in The News Minute, and has been republished with permission)
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