All eyes on Palanisamy as Dinakaran returns

Besides, the woes of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy, who is surviving on a razor thin majority, have compounded with a section of ministers having already endorsed Dinakaran with some even asking him to act.  “EPS should either rein in by stating his stand or would have to watch the government crumble,” opined the leaders from O Panneerselvam (OPS) faction. 

The faction had categorically said that they would not back track from their primary demands of ousting VK Sasikala’s clan from the party and the probe to demystify the death of former CM and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa. 

“We have formed a committee of senior leaders, and are awaiting a response from EPS. It is up to him to explain as to what Dinakaran meant by resuming of party work. The ball lies in the CM’s court,” AIADMK MP V Maitreyan told DTNext. 

“Dinakaran has comeback now. Maybe, he will bat for us,” he added. Former Minister Ma foi K Pandiarajan, who echoed the views of Maitreyan, stated Dinakaran himself has admitted that he was not aware of why the merger did not happen during his absence. 

“The authority to concede our demands and executing them lie only with EPS. He has to decide,” he added. 

However, he refrained from commenting on Dinakaran’s claim to resume work. Even Forest Minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan who endorsed the statement of Dinakaran later chose to shift the responsibility to EPS.  At least three MLAs from EPS faction had gone to Bengaluru to go into a huddle with the AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala on Sunday.