AIADMK merger prospects bright as OPS may meet PM today

Confirming the meeting with PM, a senior AIADMK (PTA) leader dismissed all speculations over the Prime Minister refusing to meet OPS and said, “Our leader will be meeting the Prime Minister and discussing various matters, including the present political developments in the state.”

Sources in the OPS camp also clarified that a decision would soon be reached on who will get the party’s ‘Two Leaves’ symbol as well as the confusion over the elevation of VK Sasikala as the AIADMK general secretary.

“We are confident that the Election Commission will come out with its verdict very soon,” the AIADMK (PTA) leader said.

It may be recalled that OPS and his supporters had rushed to the Election Commission on Friday to submit a fresh affidavit pleading that the nomination of TTV Dinakaran as deputy general secretary by his aunt be declared null and void. AIADMK (PTA) leaders, including former ministers Natham Viswanathan, KP Munusamy and K Pandiarajan, and sitting MLA S Semmalai, handed over the affidavit to the EC along with a copy of the statement issued by the AIADMK (Amma) faction in Chennai a day earlier.

The AIADMK (A) faction had issued a statement signed by 27 headquarters party functionaries stating that Dinakaran’s nomination as party deputy general secretary was against party rules and hence not valid.

However, the ruling party seems to be heading for yet another exciting week ahead as party’s deputy general secretary Dinakaran will be going to the people seeking justice for his ouster and begin his campaign from Melur on Monday.

Dinakaran’s supporter and party MLA from Dharmapuri district P Palaniappan said on Sunday that the party had unanimously elected VK Sasikala as general secretary and she had handpicked TTV to run the party. “Our deputy general secretary had given the two factions two months to solve their differences and work for the welfare of the people. But, leaders from both the factions have forgotten that and are engaged in fighting with each other. From Monday, our leader (TTV) will embark on a statewide tour to unite the party men and rekindle their spirits. The public meeting in Melur on Monday is going to be a turning point in Tamil Nadu politics,” he said.