CHENNAI: Amid speculations over the merger of both the warring factions of AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, the O Panneerselvam camp seems to be focusing on the birth centenary celebrations of party founder and former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran.
The programmes to mark the grand event came up for discussion at the MLAs meeting chaired by the former Chief Minister here last week. Panneerselvam had elaborated on the deliberations he had with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The PM was requested to grace the MGR centenary celebrations to be held in October. He promised to grace the event and wanted to know the date of the programme,” a statement issued by AIADMK-PT Amma released after the meeting read.
Meanwhile, hardening their stand, the rebel faction’s senior leader and Rajya Sabha Member V Maitreyan challenged the Chief Minister to announce the dates for the civic body polls. “If the CM has guts, he should announce the dates for the civic body elections,” he said, while talking to reporters.
A top leader of AIADMK-PT Amma said, “Merger of both the factions was not on the agenda during OPS’s meeting with the Prime Minister.”
‘CM owes explanation’
Questioning the purpose of Edappadi K Palaniswami’s meeting with PM Narendra Modi in Delhi last week, AIADMK-PT Amma leader and Rajya Sabha member Dr V Maitreyan said the CM owed an explanation as to why neither his Cabinet colleagues nor government officials accompanied him.