Ministers want clarity from EPS, OPS on relations with AMMK

The State cabinet meeting, chaired by Palaniswami, was held at the Secretariat on Monday. In the 90-minute meet, the first half was dedicated to administrative issues and after 40 minutes, officials were asked to exit the hall as ongoing political issues in the state were to be discussed.

When the issue of a possible merger of AIADMK with AMMK cropped up, Ministers sought a direction from both Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, on the issue.  One of the cabinet ministers, who attended the meeting, on request of anonymity, said that Panneerselvam was disappointed at Ministers not criticising AMMK Deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran in public.

“When the issue of merger cropped up, Panneerselvam expressed his disappointment at Ministers remaining tight-lipped on Dhinakaran in public,” the Minister added.

When Panneerselvam was expressing his opinion on Dhinakaran, Palaniswami intervened and categorically informed ministers that there is no way that a merger could happen and asked ministers to continue criticising Dhinakaran. “Palaniswami gave the green light for ministers to criticise Dhinakaran in press meets and at political meetings and this was a huge step forward in the stand of AIADMK leaders,” the Minister noted.

Though Palaniswami was against the merger of the two parties, he was open to AMMK cadre returning to AIADMK. According to the Minister, Palaniswami said that since AIADMK was the mother party, it was ready to welcome back AMMK cadre back.

 The Minister also said when Palaniswami was speaking to the ministers, State Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam, intervened and asked Palaniswami and Panneerselvam to issue a detailed official release from the party asking the AMMK cadre to return to AIADMK.

After the cabinet meeting, a group of senior State ministers against AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, met unofficially at the Secretariat and discussed ways to strengthen the party and to bring back AMMK cadre back to AIADMK. 

Radical changes were made in the party and a new committee ‘Grievance Committee’, comprising senior Ministers, was formed to resolve issues within the party. The Grievance Committee comprises of SP Velumani, P Thangamani, former Minister, Natham Viswanathan, Deputy Coordinator of AIADMK KP Munusamy, and MP Vaithyalingam.

It was also decided to follow the principle of allotting one post per person in the party and according to it, senior ministers holding multiple posts were relieved of posts.

Sources said that in the meeting, pro Dhinakaran Ministers like State Cooperation Minister, Sellur K Raju were not included. The discussion also centred around how former transport minister Senthil Balaji joining the DMK had weakened the AMMK.