Chennai: A protracted feud in Tamil Nadu’s ruling AIADMK ended on Monday as O Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy announced the much-awaited merger of their respective factions at party headquarters. Sources said as per the conditions of this merger, VK Sasikala may be expelled from the party.
As a condition of the merger, O Panneerselvam will be Deputy Chief Minister and will also hold the Finance and Housing portfolios.
The former CM Paneerselvam will now be the Coordinator of the new merged AIADMK, while Palaniswami will be the Joint Coordinator. A team of 11 members will run party and oversee its functioning.
#AIADMKMerger
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) August 21, 2017
As their names suggest -
OPS will look after operations.
EPS will look after Earnings Per Share.
"This was the dream of MGR that we stay united. Other parties when they split, never come back but it is the power of the AIADMK that we came back. Today is a historic day. There were people day-dreaming that the party will fall, let me assure you that it will never happen. We will now work towards the betterment of our people. We will strive to work for the betterment of Tamil Nadu and the people of the state," said E Palaniswami, after announcing the merger of both AIADMK factions.#EPS and #OPS camps advised to bury the hatchet but it is anyone's guess how long it will be before the knives are out in the #AIADMK
— T S Sudhir (@Iamtssudhir) August 21, 2017
"I welcome all party cadres. I thank everyone who stood by me for last six months. We are now going to Amma's samadhi to seek her blessing. I am happy to be back in your midst," says O Panneerselvam.
According to a senior AIADMK leader, a General Council will be convened to expel Sasikala who was appointed as the General Secretary after the death of former CM J Jayalalithaa in December 2016.
Party veteran C. Ponnaiyan said the appointment was illegal at the first instance.
That #AIADMK is taint-free with expelling #TTVDinakaran, #Sasikala is a myth, much like #EPS-OPS merger will save the party, #TamilNadu
— Viju Cherian (@vijucherian) August 21, 2017
If Sasikala's group is expunged, AIADMK as originally intended can revive & present effective alternative to DMK. Good merger happened!
— Malini Parthasarathy (@MaliniP) 21 August 2017
