Reporter’s Diary: No entry for TTS call grows in AIADMK

The feud has been simmering and a section of AIADMK followers in Theni has urged Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami faction to avoid Tamilselvan so that he becomes a political orphan with no takers.

Posters have mushroomed in Karur and Theni districts insisting that the ruling party should not accept Tamilselvan, who contested against OP Raveendranath, son of AIADMK convenor OPS. But, several party MLAs and district functionaries have opined that the former MLA should be brought back to strengthen the party. A party senior pointed out that if the votes secured by AIADMK and AMMK were combined, the ruling party would have won three more Assembly seats. He also noted the need to strengthen the party ahead of next Assembly polls.

If the former MLA joins the party, it would hurt the sentiments of OPS and his son. But, it may encourage more AMMK functionaries to follow suit instead of shifting allegiance to the arch rival DMK. Thus, whether he joins the AIADMK or not, Tamilselvan has created a catch 22 situation for party convenor OPS.

Interestingly, even though Minister D Jayakumar openly invited Tamilselvan, OPS is yet to react on the issue and has been avoiding the reporters who want to know whether the leader would be accepted. The AMMK has also decided not to talk about Tamilselvan, hoping that it would help snub the rebel.