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 IST

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 IST

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