AIADMK row: K Palaniswamy camp goes soft on Ops faction, rebels firm in opposing state govt

Chennai: The AIADMK camp led by Chief Minister K Palaniswamy continues to keep its doors open for the rebel leader O Panneerselvam-led faction to facilitate a rapprochement. The former chief minister-led camp is, however, firm in opposing the government even as sidelined deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran continues to strengthen his support base within the AIADMK by meeting party functionaries. [caption id=“attachment_3870515” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of TTV Dinakaran. PTI[/caption] “It is my humble request that we (AIADMK factions) should be united and not give room for others to mock or criticise Amma’s (J Jayalalithaa’s) government led by Chief Minister K Palaniswamy,” finance minister and senior Amma faction leader D Jayakumar said on Tuesday. Disagreeing with his view, senior Panneerselvam faction leader KP Munusamy said the incumbent regime was not Amma’s government. “Had it been the real Amma’s government there would not have been a split or announcement for a protest,” he told reporters. The Panneerselvam-led faction had announced a protest demonstration on 10 August here on various issues faced by the people. However, it has now been deferred to a later date, tentatively 18 August. Munusamy, who was a minister in late Jayalalithaa’s 2011-16 regime, said Opposition parties “should not mock at this government which was ushered in by Amma and people should not weep… that is why we have announced a protest.” The Panneerselvam camp has been maintaining that a patch-up was not possible. Panneerselvam had on 11 June disbanded a seven-member party (AIADMK-Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) to facilitate a merger with the ruling AIADMK (Amma) faction. AIADMK comprises factions led by chief minister Palaniswamy, rebel leader Panneeerselvam and party deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran. Meanwhile, several functionaries who were days ago appointed by Dinakaran continued to call on him at his residence here, reassuring him of their support. When Dinakaran made the appointments on 4 August, the Palaniswamy camp had questioned the move and the Panneerselvam faction had kept aloof, saying “Dinakaran is an outsider” and hence it did not matter. Dinakaran loyalist and sitting MLA Thanga Tamilselvan, to a question, said those who opposed (minister Jayakumar and others) the present appointments were themselves appointed by party general secretary VK Sasikala. He demanded to know why they have not come forward to quit such party posts. He said according to the plan, Dinakaran would begin his state-wide tour from Madurai District on 14 August. On 7 August, Palaniswamy had said he expected to see the much-anticipated but delayed merger of the factions “soon.”