CHENNAI: Stung by rebel leader and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s remark that a mid-term election was possible in few months, the ruling AIADMK faction hit back terming it a “poisonous” comment that revealed the dissidents’ true intention - facilitating arch-rival DMK’s return to power.
“All (ministers, MLAs, MPs and other functionaries) are working for winning another mandate in 2021 Assembly elections. But, Panneerselvam’s comments are mischievous and unacceptable. With this, he has made his true intentions clear - that deep in his heart, he wishes that this government formed by Amma should not last,” said finance minister D Jayakumar.
Panneerselvam, kick-starting his mass contact programme at Kottivakkam near Chennai on Friday evening, remarked that the State might see a snap poll even before the civic elections to be held in a few months, which has rattled the ruling AIADMK faction led by Chief Minister ‘Edappadi’ Palaniswami.
“I am sure the next Assembly elections will be held only in 2021, and ‘Amma government’ will be formed once again,” asserted Jayakumar.
The fresh round of fire between the rival factions has raised doubts about the merger. “The poisonous remarks by Panneerselvam, who has the support of only a miniscule percentage of functionaries, is very unfortunate. Despite all these, if they come forward for merger, we are ready to take them back into the party,” added Jayakumar, a member of the negotiation committee that Palaniswami had constituted.
Meanwhile, talking to mediapersons at Salem, Forests Minister ‘Dindigul’ C Sreenivasan hit out at Panneerselvam. “They are heeding the words of somebody else and thus acting in favour of the opposition,” he said.
He added that they still remained positive about merger, but wondered whether the rebels were on the same page. “We don’t know what they are up to… They are acting with a motive not to hold merger talks. Besides, they have some problems within their faction,” he said in reply to a question adding that Panneerselvam faction is working for making Stalin the next chief minister.”
Another minister SP Velumani told the media at Coimbatore that the government would last its full term. “Merger talks will take place definitely and we are waiting for that,” he added.