AIADMK merger talks hit roadblock as EPS camp wants VK Sasikala, TTV Dinakaran to continue

Chennai: The talks regarding merger of the two AIADMK factions appeared to have hit a roadblock on Tuesday as the EPS camp rejected O Panneerselvam's call for removing VK Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dinakaran from the party before a reunion.    

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam earlier broke his silence and claimed that Sasikala has betrayed late AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa. While also claiming that there is no place for Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dinakakaran in the AIADMK, OPS said that he will continue to fight to protect the legacy of 'Amma'.    

Amid talks of merger between the O Panneerselvam and E Palaniswami factions of Tamil Nadu's ruling party - AIADMK - the support for VK Sasikala is apparently thinning and she is under tremendous pressure to resign from her post along with her nephew TTV Dinakar who faces corruption charges.  

Here are the latest updates:-

-Hari Prabhakaran, joint secretary, IT wing of the OPS faction, tweets the copy of FIR filed against TTV Dinakaran and S Chandrashekhar.

FIR registered against TTV Dhinakaran & Sukesh Chandrasekar pic.twitter.com/1VmqMKQY8r — Hari Prabhakaran (@Hariadmk) April 18, 2017

-We want Sasikala to continue as general secretary and Dinakaran as deputy general secretary: Vetrivel

-No committee was formed to hold talks with OPS, says Vetrivel

-Who authorised the ministers to convene a meeting on Monday night in the absence of AIADMK Deputy General Secretary TTV Dinakaran? asks party MLA Vetrivel.

-Sasikala and her family have to be kept away, directly or indirectly they shouldn't have any role within party: KC Palanisamy, OPS camp leader.

-No demands have been made by OPS till now, he only said he wants to work unitedly. We are ready to talk whenever he wants to: Shanmugam, TN govt minister.

-We have not deviated from our stand and we stick to our basics. Any change in our stand shall be injustice to people of TN and AIADMK cadres: OPS

-We have been insisting that the family against whom we have waged a war had indulged in activities bringing disrepute to the entire TN: OPS

-We have submitted  a petition to EC to follow the bylaws and give justice: OPS.

-Elevation of GS is not as per the bylaws of the party.  Sasikala's elevation and inturn her subsequent actions is null and void: OPS.

-The treatment provided to amma should be made transparent with an Enquiry to the same: OPS.

-If we don't follow this path then it shall be injustice to the people: OPS.

-Our founder MGR and Amma created this party as a party for the people and cadres, this is a Democratic Party for people and cadres: OPS.

-AIADMK should not be controlled by one party, Jayalalithaa's death must be probed: OPS.

Party should not be in the hands of a family. — O Panneerselvam (@OfficeOfOPS) April 18, 2017

-AIADMK must be saved from dynastic politics, says OPS.

-TTV faction gave 4000 per voter in the recent byelection at RK Nagar and IT raids were conducted unearthing evidences: OPS.

-TTV Dinakaran tried to bribe voters, alleges OPS.

-There is credible evidence against TTV Dinakaran, claims OPS.  

-Both Sasikala and Dinakaran were sacked by 'Amma', there is no place for them in AIADMK: OPS 

-The family which betrayed Jayalalithaa will have to go, says OPS.

-I am an ardent follower of Amma, want to tread the path shown by her: OPS.

-MK Stalin of the DMK has lashed out at the AIADMK, says 'the state has become a battleground'.

-There were no talks about the Dinakaran and Sasikala issue. Even the OPS faction has not raised any questions about it, says Sengottaiyan.

There are no talks on the issue of TTV Dinakaran and Sasikala, nor did OPS faction raise any question on the same: KA Sengottaiyan pic.twitter.com/DkMoboSIkT — ANI (@ANI_news) April 18, 2017

-TTV Dinakaran has welcomed OPS' statement about AIADMK merger: KA Sengottaiyan.

-AIADMK leaders' meet onboard INS Chennai still underway, many including D Jayakumar, P Thangamani and CV Shanmugam attending it.

-OPS camp wants VK Sasikala, TTV Dinakaran to resign ahead of proposed AIADMK merger, want Panneerselvam reinstated as Chief Minister.

-O Panneerselvam, who is in Tamil Nadu's Theni district, is expected to arrive in Chennai this afternoon.

-A team consisting of senior ministers formed by us for the process of merger of two factions. We are brothers from same family: TN minister Sellur Raju.

A team consisting of senior mins formed by us for the process of merger of 2 factions. We are brothers from same family: TN Min Sellur Raju pic.twitter.com/xxUlAdOaLa — ANI (@ANI_news) April 18, 2017

-I am happy with the merger move: Tamil Nadu Forest Minister C Srinivasan.

I am happy for the move of merger with the OPS faction: Tamil Nadu Forest Minister C Srinivasan pic.twitter.com/UZXq0xWYaJ — ANI (@ANI_news) April 18, 2017

-We need to protect the party symbol, so all must come together. This is not a question of the CM post; only of Amma's legacy: Thambidurai.

-Tamil Nadu people still support Amma's legacy. AIADMK still has 50 percent vote bank, while the DMK has only 30 percent, says Thambidurai.    

-There is no split in the party, only differences in opinion. We are sorting out all issues, says M Thambidurai quoted as saying by News18.

-VK Sasikala is being increasingly isolated as E Palaniswami camp wants her to resign along with nephew Dinakaran who faces corruption charges, claim sources.

-TTV Dinakran is meeting his legal team at his Chennai residence, say reports.

-All MLAs of the VK Sasikala faction are onboard INS Chennai to discuss strategy, say reports.

-TTV Dinakran, facing bribery charges, has reportedly reached his residence in Chennai.

-Sasikala faction of AIADMK has formed a committee to conduct talks on merger, claims O Panneerselvam.

-DMK says merger of 'power-monger' OPS, Sasikala factions will not last. 

-Meanwhile, the Delhi Police Crime Branch team, which was supposed to leave for Chennai today has postponed the visit. 

-EPS camp has reportedly welcomed the merger talks.

-Some top ministers of the Edappadi Palaniswami camp had an impromptu meeting around midnight on Monday. D Jayakumar, Finance Minister in the Palaniswami government said after the meeting that the group had discussed the party's election symbol issue and Panneerselvam's suggestion at merger.

-Rebel leader and former chief minister O Panneerselvam had earlier hinted at fresh efforts at a unified AIADMK, provided that VK Sasikala and TTV Dinakaran resign from their posts.

-On the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday there were intense speculations of VK Sasikala resigning from her post as the party chief of AIADMK. This was later denied by Tamil Nadu finance minister, D Jayakumar.

-Delhi Police had arrested Dinakaran's alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrashekhar with Rs 1.5 crore cash on Monday. The police also seized a BMW and a Mercedes car from him. Dinakaran and Sukesh had allegedly struck a deal of Rs 50 crore to help the AIADMK Sasikala faction keep the 'two leaves' symbol.

The Midnight AIADMK Merger Drama

Throwing indications of growing dissent against ruling AIADMK chief VK Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dinakara, who has been named in a bribery case relating to a tussle over party's frozen symbol 'two leaves', former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Jayalalithaa loyalist O Panneerselvam yesterday hinted that he is open for merger.

In a sudden move, some top leaders from AIADMK and TN govt ministers held an emergency meeting, hinting at the merger of two factions of AIADMK - O Panneerselvam and VK Sasikala camps.  

The OPS faction led by Panneerselvam has reportedly set a condition for merger – VK Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dinakaran should resign from their posts. Reports also claim that a lot of leaders from the Sasikala camp too have lost faith in her leadership and ready for a merger inorder to strengthen the party.