CHENNAI: Amidst reports of two factions being engaged in ‘secret talks’, AIADMK (Amma) spokesperson Nanjil Sampath on Thursday said the party’s deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran enjoyed the support of 87 MLAs. The merger was welcome without rebel leader O Panneerselvam and K Pandiarajan, as both had betrayed the party, he said.
Meanwhile, the district secretaries meeting of AIADMK (Amma) was held at the party headquarters for the third day. Speaking to Express, a district secretary said, “You can expect a good development in a day or two.”
Declining to elaborate further, he said, “Everyone has a hidden agenda behind the talks. That will never work out. So, in my view there is no chance for merger in the immediate future.”
Finance Minister D Jayakumar said Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami’s faction was ready to hold talks anytime, while Pandiarajan said for commencing the talks, the EPS faction should meet the preconditions already put forth by his faction.
Meanwhile, reacting to Pandiarajan’s remarks, Sampath told a television channel that the merger would be welcome without Panneerselvam and Pandiarajan. He sought to downplay the case filed against Dhinakaran saying, “We are not surprised by this case. Those in power will do anything to remove a person from politics.”
Asked who is behind all these developments, he said, “Delhi, Delhi, Delhi,” pointing fingers at the BJP. Questioned about the lack of support for Dhinakaran from the legislators, he said, “We have the support of 87 MLAs.”