AIADMK merger: As it happened

Pic courtesy: ANI

Chennai: Six months after breaking up following the death of Jayalalithaa, the two factions of the AIADMK merged on Monday with rebel leader O Panneerselvam made the Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister and party Coordinator while the AIADMK decided to sack the now jailed VK Sasikala as general secretary.

Panneerselvam, who was twice CM when Jayalalithaa was jailed and again after she died in December, will also get back his Finance portfolio.

He had quit as Chief Minister the last time in February following differences with Sasikala, a long-time Jayalalithaa aide.

21 August 2017

23:11 PM

The AIADMK group headed by VK Sasikala's nephew TTV Dinakaran will meet Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on Tuesday.

TN Governor has given us appointment at 10 am tomorrow. We'll discuss the issue with him. According to by law they don't have rights to do this, everything happening in party HQ is forgery, said P Vetriivel.

17:40 PM

I congratulate O Panneerselvam and others who took oath today, hope TN scales newer heights of progress in the years to come, tweets: PM Modi.

I congratulate Thiru O Panneerselvam & others who took oath today. I hope Tamil Nadu scales newer heights of progress in the years to come.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2017

Centre assures all possible support to CM Thiru Edappadi K. Palaniswami & Dy CM Thiru O Panneerselvam for the growth of TN. @OfficeOfOPS

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2017

17:05 PM

Bad time begins for TTV Dinakaran. Whoever thinks bad for Amma's government will be ousted. Golden day in the history of AIADMK. All cadres and leaders are happy. No disappointment for me, says D Jayakumar.

16:58 PM

Obstacle has been removed, two-factions of the party have been united again, says V Maitreyan.

16:56 PM

General body meeting must be immediately convened and the secretary must be removed, says KP Munusamy.

16:54 PM

Panneerselvam aide Pandiarajan will be Minister for Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture.

16:53 PM

K Pandiarajan sworn-in as minister in Tamil Nadu Cabinet.

16:45 PM

Panneerselvam takes oath as Deputy CM of Tamil Nadu.

16:35 PM

Panneerselvam to be made the Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister. He will also get back his Finance portfolio. 

16:08 PM

We are happy with the merger but billion dollar question is why are they avoiding us?: CR Saraswathi, TTV Dinakaran-VK Sasikala faction pic.twitter.com/wa1cFita5c

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2017

16:07 PM

CM E Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam pay floral tribute at MGR Memorial in Chennai: ANI

15:59 PM

Chennai: CM E.Palaniswami & O.Panneerselvam pay tributes to former CM Jayalalithaa's at her Marina Beach memorial #AIADMKMerger pic.twitter.com/Au4o4bn1km

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2017

15:57 PM

It will be decided after party's general body meeting, O Panneerselvam tells ANI on question of VK Sasikala's expulsion from party post.

15:55 PM

CM E Palaniswami arrives at Jayalalithaa's memorial at Marina Beach to pay tribute, post AIADMK merger.

Chennai: CM E.Palaniswami arrives at Jayalalithaa's memorial at Marina Beach to pay tributes post #AIADMKMerger pic.twitter.com/93CR28Xfhn

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2017

15:53 PM

Amma's blessings and wishes of party cadres made it possible. Thank CM E Palaniswami and leaders of his faction: ANI quoted O Panneerselvam

15:48 PM

Had few difficulties in recent times, similar to what happened after MGR's demise, but both OPS and EPS came forward to unite party: ANI quoted KP Munusamy, member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Krishnagiri Constituency as saying.

15:42 PM

Visual from outside AIADMK party head office after #AIADMKMerger. pic.twitter.com/S4gNUbJCMT

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2017

15:33 PM

O Panneerselvam to be given portfolio of Finance and the position of Deputy CM, to be sworn in at 4.30 pm, today: ANI

15:24 PM

11 member coordination committee will run the party: E Palaniswami pic.twitter.com/zm7JRsGNwc

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2017

15:20 PM

"Amma (Jayalalithaa) has said before that after me AIADMK will last over 100 years. We all will make sure it happens," says EPS.

15:18 PM

Our first priority will be to retrieve the two leaves symbol. We will fulfill all the promises made by Amma: E Palaniswami after merger pic.twitter.com/C0LoFjXfZo

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2017

15:18 PM

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our first priority will be to retrieve the two leaves symbol. We will fulfill all the promises made by Amma: E Palaniswami after merger <a href="https://t.co/C0LoFjXfZo">pic.twitter.com/C0LoFjXfZo</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/899569039348871168">August 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

15:17 PM

"I will be co-convener. K. P. Munusamy will be deputy co-convener," says E.Palaniswami.

15:16 PM

O Panneerselvam will be convener for this AIADMK party, says EPS after merger

15:12 PM

Sasikala likely to be expelled from the party, say sources. 

15:06 PM

E Palaniswami's swearing-in ceremony at 5 pm today.

15:04 PM

"We've come together for Amma," says OPS

15:04 PM

OPS and EPS seal deal with handshake. 

14:58 PM

The AIADMK merger meeting between O Panneerselvam and E Palaniswami begins: Reports

14:53 PM

Expressing views on the AIADMK merger, veteran actor Kamal Hassan wrote on twitter that the both the factions are making a fooling people with their power hungry attitude

14:40 PM

O Panneerselvam reached for AIADMK party head office as EPS comes out to meet him.

14:36 PM

Soon, a joint press conference will be addressed by EPS and OPS. 

14:36 PM

"There will be good news soon," says O Panneerselvam.

Sweets are being distributed outside the AIADMK party headquarters. 

14:34 PM

"All demands have been met, we are happy with everything.Heading to party office, expect good news," says S Semallai, AIADMK leader (OPS faction)

14:33 PM

Started to #AIADMK HQ. #AIADMKMerger

— O Panneerselvam (@OfficeOfOPS) August 21, 2017

14:32 PM

Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami arrives at AIADMK party head office while O Panneerselvam leaves for AIADMK party head office 

14:24 PM

A last minute drama unfolded, after Palaniswami cancelled his scheduled visit to AIADMK headquarter postponing merger talks. 

14:23 PM

Nearly, 17 AIADMK legislators, supporters of TTV Dinakaran, are at his Besant Nagar residence, reported news agency ANI.