TN to probe Jayalalithaa’s death

OPS added that no member of the Sasikala family will not be a part of the party after the merger. Overall, the AIADMK has a fresh chance to try and deliver a good administration to the people of Tamil Nadu. While Mr. Palaniswami told mediapersons in Tiruvarur that the merger would happen “shortly”, Mr. Pannerselvam was more specific, and said it would take place “in a day or two”.

April 20: Merger moves hit stumbling block with the Panneerselvam camp putting conditions, including a formal expulsion of Sasikala and Dhinakaran from the party, besides a CBI probe into Jayalalithaa’s death.

The formula worked out for the merger has Paneerselvam as Deputy Chief Minister and party convener, while E. Palanisamy continues as Chief Minister with the tag of joint-convenor of the party. It is being understood that the former chief minister may be made the head of a panel to look after the affairs of the AIADMK, till the leadership issue is finalised.

Such being the case, any overt action against Sasikala might provoke deposed deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran, he feared. In the government, Panneerselvam was expected to accept the post of deputy chief minister as per the terms agreed upon by both factions. Likewise, senior leader from the OPS camp KP Munisamy would be assistant coordinator while parliamentarian and former minister Vaithilaigam from the EPS group would also be assistant coordinator. The halfway mark in the Tamil Nadu Assembly is 117.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the AIADMK, and assured the State Government of all support. Save Karnataka, the south has always been a tough nut for BJP to crack. The relationship between the two remained strong, and in the final weeks of Jayalalithaa’s terminal illness, came into the open. It may be recalled that after the demise of the AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran in December 1987, the party split into two factions, one headed by Jayalalithaa and another by Janaki Ramachandran. As the party has always been eager to register its strong presence in Tamil Nadu politics for a long time.

Earlier on Monday, 17 AIADMK MLAs, the supporters of TTV Dhinakaran, had reached his Besant Nagar residence for a meeting, according to ANI. However, in a state where Dravidianism is the bedrock of politics, it will be no mean task for the party to consolidate its position. There is also talk of the BJP expressing interest in allying with the AIADMK for approaching local elections.