Chennai : Attempts to merge the two factions of the AIADMK hit a roadblock on Thursday with the Puratchi Thalaivi Amma group headed by former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) hardening its conditions for opening negotiations with the Amma camp on unifying the parties.
After a four-hour long deliberations by Panneerselvam with his followers, former Minister K P Munusamy, who was the first to raise a banner of revolt against Sasikala in January itself, addressed journalists saying they were not convinced by the steps taken by the ruling AIADMK (Amma).
Referring to the announcement of ministers that they were sidelining the Sasikala family from the affairs of the party and government, Mr Munusamy – accompanied by several prominent rebel leaders – said, “We see this as a drama that is a fallout of the fight within the Sasikala family. We feel that Sasikala along with her husband Natarajan and brother Dhivakaran are behind this move to isolate (her nephew) TTV Dhinakaran.”
According to him, the OPS camp will be convinced only if the resignations of Sasikala and Dhinakaran are secured and a formal announcement is made by the AIADMK (Amma) instructing all cadres not to have any truck with them in the future. “Besides, they should withdraw the affidavit filed before the Election Commission in which they have declared that Sasikala was appointed general secretary of the party,” Munusamy said.
