Merger of EPS, OPS factions put on hold

Chennai: The much-awaited merger between the two warring factions of Chief Minister Palaniswamy-led AIADMK (Amma) and O Panneerselvam-led AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) has been put on the hold.

The MLAs and party members were seen leaving the Jayalalithaa memorial, where the announcement was to be made by the both camps. Speculations were rife that after the merger announcement, Panneerselvam would become Deputy Chief Minister and some members of his faction would be given ministerial berths. However, the report was dismissed by members of the Pannerselvam faction.

Even as the big announcement on the merger is expected, the Jayalalithaa memorial at the Marina Beach in Chennai was all decked up. Massive floral arrangements were made at the memorial.

Earlier in the day, the two factions of the AIADMK went into a huddle to chalk out the future course of action, a day after the Tamil Nadu government announced a probe into the death of Jayalalithaa. While Palaniswamy was closeted with his Cabinet colleagues to deliberate on the matter, the rival camp led by Panneerselvam held its own meeting.

The meeting held at the residence of Panneerselvam, a former chief minister, was attended by the top leaders of his camp, including former ministers K P Munusamy, K Panidarajan, besides MLAs, MPs and other office-bearers.

Panneerselvam, who has the support of about 10 MLAs and a dozen MPs, is expected to formally respond to Palaniswamy's announcement on setting up of an inquiry commission to probe Jayalalithaa's death and conversion of her Poes Garden home into a memorial, two key demands of his faction for the merger. The formal expulsion of jailed party general secretary V K Sasikala and her kin, including deputy general secretary T T V Dhinakaran, from the AIADMK was the other major demand.

While the Palaniswamy camp has "delegitimised" Dhinakaran's post, it was maintaining that Sasikala's appointment was hanging in balance as the matter was pending with the Election Commission and the court.

Though the Panneerselvam faction had sought "either a CBI or a judicial probe," in March, some of its leaders now claim that the demand was for only a CBI investigation. Simultaneously, supporters of Dhinakaran are holding consultations at a city hotel even as he met his aunt Sasikala in a Bengaluru prison earlier in the day along with his family.