CHENNAI: In a bid to save the Tamil Nadu ruling government in case the Madras High Court sets aside disqualification of 18 rebel MLAs, the AIADMK has offered to hand over authority of the party to the Sasikala family, on a condition that they keep TTV Dhinakaran away. Sources said that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) sent over some ministers to negotiate with the Sasikala family. In return for the offer, they have asked not to disturb the government.
They said they were confident of winning over the ambitious family, however, a deal could not be struck. Many are hesitant to desert Dhinakaran, who proved his position by winning the RK Nagar by-election in December. Also, it is widely known that Sasikala relies on him too. “Some ministers came to us, but we have no inclination to change our stand,” a family member said. Another source said the ruling group had invited Dhinakaran for the party general council meeting in September last year and made an offer, which he declined. “We are sure that the party cadres are with us. A large number of cadres have worked for the victory of TTV in RK Nagar,” they said.
It has also been reported that other than re-inducting expelled leader Sasikala along with other family members, two key party posts have been offered to the family. Meanwhile, the Dhinakaran camp is unrelenting and not ready for any compromise that fails to remove both, EPS and OPS, from their posts, and there are not a lot of takers of the idea. A source said, “Edappadi will not agree for a compromise that involves his stepping down. Rather, he will go down with the ship. But ministers are a worried lot. They want the government to continue at any cost, even if it warrants a change of guard at the top.”
