Row intensifies as Dhivakaran vows to isolate TTV

The minister refrained from denying the allegations about Dhivakaran’s contact with AIADMK leaders but said, “Dhivakaran or anyone from Sasikala’s family will not be accepted by the AIADMK”.

Commenting on the rift between the two leaders, Jayakumar selectively attacked Dhinakaran stating that he was sent away from the party by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. The clash between the two relatives had openly showed that the allegations of AIADMK against Dhinakaran are true. However, Jayakumar avoided making any comments on the RK Nagar MLA. 

Speaking at Mannargudi, Dhivakaran pointed out that most of the disqualified MLAs including AMMK propaganda secretary Thangathamizhselvan are silent and asserted that he would isolate Dhinakaran in six months. Dhivakaran said he would tour around Tamil Nadu and meet the party cadres, indicating that he might form a party to challenge his nephew since he had already ruled out joining AIADMK.

Admitting that he was behind Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami even after the latter revolted against the family, Dhivakaran said, “I have been supporting Palaniswami throughout but also backed Dhinakaran to prevent the family from splitting up. Hereafter, I will not continue with the mistake of supporting Dhinakaran. Both Palaniswami and deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam are better than Dhinakaran and the two leaders cannot be termed as betrayers at all”. Dhivakaran denied the allegations that he had started the fight with Dhinakaran and rather charged AMMK whip P Vetrivel for the rift. “I have only replied to Vetrivel’s allegations and Dhinakaran cannot say my reply is out of malice. Sasikala is my sister and Vetrivel cannot have more concern for her than I have. I think Vetrivel is expressing the views of Dhinakaran,” he said. 

Sasikala left 123 MLAs, 38 MPs, the party flag and the ‘two leaves’ symbol with Dhinakaran, but he had lost everything, Dhivakaran charged and said Sasikala would have been the general secretary of the party even in prison if she had not announced Dhinakaran as the party’s deputy general secretary.

AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran on Thursday claimed that Dhivakaran has a habit of uttering baseless comments and said that he has been like this since 2002.

The RK Nagar MLA also stressed that he does not bother about him and that he will continue to concentrate on his own party.

Reacting to the comments of Dhivakaran that he would support Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Dhinakaran strongly condemned it and said that Dhivakaran is not keeping himself healthy since 2002. “Even if he is not affectionate towards us, all our family members are concerned about him and still we love him as a family member. We do not bother about his baseless comments,” Dhinakaran said.

He said that the state government has been going smooth with the Centre only when it comes to the personal welfare of the ministers and not for of the people. He pointed out that the AIADMK which lost in the RK Nagar election will certainly lose in all the 234 segments in the assembly polls.

Meanwhile, sources said that Dhivakaran has planned to meet Sasikala who is in the prison after his daughter Mathangi’s baby shower which is scheduled to be held in Madurai on Friday. Dhivakaran has planned to visit Sasikala on Saturday and is expected to discuss the rift with Dhinakaran.

Dhivakaran also said that out of 21 MLAs, nine are his supporters and they will, at any time come out of the Dhinakaran camp and will support the former.