Both the ruling AIADMK (Amma) and the rebel AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) constituted teams of seven members each to negotiate on the conditions for merger. While the AIADMK (Amma) team is headed by Rajya Sabha MP Vaithilingam, the rebel team is led by former Minister K P Munusamy.
Chennai : The two factions of the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu on Friday chose to leave behind their respective angry posturing and take steps to negotiate a merger. Both the ruling AIADMK (Amma) and the rebel AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) constituted teams of seven members each to negotiate on the conditions for merger.
While the AIADMK (Amma) team is headed by Rajya Sabha MP Vaithilingam, the rebel team is led by former Minister K P Munusamy, who was the first to lead a battle against jailed party leader Sasikala’s family.
However, before the teams could get down to the task in the coming days it appears that the biggest issue at hand would be as to who would don the office of Chief Minister in the unified party.
The ruling camp is learnt to be unwilling to cede it to former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and instead would seek to retain incumbent Edappadi K Palaniswami.
“This factor could make or break the deal. Panneerselvam would obviously want to be sworn in Chief Minister, having been given the post twice by Jayalalithaa and once after her death. His supporters claim that he was the one who was handpicked by their late leader as her political successor, though she did not formally anoint him,” pointed out a political observer.
On the other hand, the ruling camp feels that despite Panneerselvam’s perceived popularity, he could manage to wean away less than a dozen MLAs after revolting against Sasikala.
“We still have 122 MLAs and the Chief Minister himself personally enjoys the support of around 35-40 legislators. So Panneerselvam could be made number two in the Cabinet and may be given the post of party general secretary,” says a ruling camp leader.
