TTV Dinakaran confident party will get back 'Two Leaves' symbol

Continuing to put up a brave front despite a revolt by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami-led camp, beleaguered ruling AIADMK (Amma) deputy chief TTV Dinakaran today exuded confidence of uniting the party and getting back its 'Two Leaves' symbol.

Dinakaran, whose appointment to the post of AIADMK (Amma) deputy chief was declared against party rules at an August 10 meeting presided by Palaniswami, told reporters here that the camp had earlier endorsed his leadership by filing an affidavit before the Election Commission.

"Now they have passed a resolution as per which appointments made by me are null and void. Is this not 420 (cheating)? If 27 ministers, including the chief minister, have signed the resolution nullifying the appointments made by me, it is cheating," he said.

Dinakaran, who is slated to undertake a state-wide tour from here today, said that he was working to strengthen the party and that was the reason MLAs were "switching over" to his side.

The resolution by the CM's camp on August 10 had also asked party cadres to ignore Dinakaran's directives.

It had also said that though VK Sasikala was made party general secretary following the death of chief minister J Jayalalithaa in December last, she could not function in the post in "view of extraordinary circumstances".

Dinakaran, nephew of Sasikala, said he was not scared of any person and that he had faced a lot of "opposition" since 1987.

He alleged there were reports of corruption against a minister in implementing a marriage assistance scheme.

He also said the party organ 'Namathu MGR' was being managed by his relative Vivek and those who had worked against the organisation had been weeded out.

Referring to Palaniswami's ascent to the chief minister's post, Dinakaran said he had "got the throne by accident".

He added that Palaniswami was elected chief minister by Sasikala and others.

Dinakaran is here to take part in a meeting at Melur tonight to celebrate the birth centenary of late chief minister MG Ramachandran, which is expected to be a platform for a show of strength by him.