CHENNAI: The rival AIADMK factions have finally merged after arriving on a power-sharing arrangement. K Palaniswami will remain Chief Minister and O Panneerselvam (OPS) will be his deputy. OPS will also act as the AIADMK convenor while Palaniswami will be the co-convenor of the ruling party in Tamil Nadu.
After weeks of hard bargaining by both the factions, it was announced that a cabinet reshuffle will take place. Both, Palaniswami and OPS were given a rousing reception by party members who flocked the party headquarters and lined up along the road leading to the office. The announcements were made by the two leaders, in a press conference.
Before the merger announcement, Tamil Nadu chief secretary had met Governor Vidyasagar Rao to discuss the possible cabinet expansion. Party leader KP Mumusamy has been appointed the deputy co-convenor, and an 11-member coordination committee will run the party. Palaniswami said the first priority of the party would be to retrieve the two leaves symbol which remains frozen by the Election Commission.
OPS said a decision on Sasikala's expulsion from the party would be taken after the party general body meeting. Deputy Convenor R Vaithilingam said Sasikala would officially be removed from the party and a general council would be convened to remove her.
OPS faction of the AIADMK had made several demands, and one of the key ones was the “formal expulsion” of Sasikala and her family members, including nephew TTV Dhinakaran from the party. Palaniswami has also agreed to set up an inquiry commission to investigate the death of former chief minister Jayalalithaa and conversion of of her house into a memorial.
19 MLAs withdraw support to govt
In new development, 19 MLAs owing allegiance to TTV Dhinakaran on Tuesday submitted individual letters to governor C Vidyasagar Rao, stating that they are withdrawing support to the EPS government.
The MLAs in their letter said that in March 2017, 122 MLAs of the party had submitted a memorandum to the governor conveying their support to Palaniswami for forming the government. But slowly, they "got disillusioned with the functioning of the government headed by Palaniswami.” The MLAs said in their letter said that the Palaniswami government has forfeited the confidence of the people and in the interest of Tamil Nadu and its people, the MLAs expressed their lack of confidence of Palaniswami and said they were withdrawing their earlier support given to him.
