CHENNAI: Crucial days for the AIADMK have just begun with four more days left for the deadline set by T T V Dhinakaran for the merger of factions. On Monday, rumours were doing the rounds that Dhinakaran had convened the meeting of the district office-bearers of the party for August 5. Within a few hours, Chief Minister ‘Edappadi’ K Palaniswami has convened the meeting of the ministers, all MLAs and district office bearers at the AIADMK headquarters at 5 pm on Tuesday.
However, staunch supporter of Dhinakaran P Vetrivel said no meeting has been planned. “It is not correct. Dhinarakan may meet the media in the coming days and announce his plans to boost the party,” Vetrivel, an MLA. A senior leader in the AIADMK (Amma) told Express that the meeting convened by the Chief Minister was indeed crucial one as it would discuss the issues relating to the merger of factions. It would also discuss other issues, including Dhinakaran’s announcement that he would engage actively in party work from August 5.
After Dhinakaran was released from Tihar prison last month, 37 MLAs of AIADMK (Amma) and a few MPs and many district secretaries called on him at his residence. A few days ago, Dhinakaran and his uncle Dhivakaran came together and vowed to work together to ‘rescue’ the AIADMK. Meanwhile, K Pandiarajan, MLA and one of the key leaders in the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) led by former CM O Panneerselvam, made a significant statement: “Merger of two factions at the earliest is good for the party and the State.” This contradicts the remark made by V Maitreyan, another key leader of Panneerselvam faction, that merger was not possible at all.