File photos of O Panneerselvam (left), TTV Dhinakaran (centre) and E Palaniswami. (Image: News18)
Both Panneerselvam and Dhinakaran have confirmed that they will meet J Jayalalithaa’s close aide VK Sasikala on her return to Chennai.
In a significant development in Tamil Nadu political circles, expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam (OPS) on Monday met Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam chief TTV Dhinakaran at his residence in Chennai and offered to “bring back” Edappadi’s Palaniswami. announced the merger. Led the AIADMK and fought a political battle against their common enemy – the ruling DMK in the state.
Both Panneerselvam and Dhinakaran have confirmed that they will meet J Jayalalithaa’s close aide VK Sasikala on her return to Chennai.
“Our aim is to keep the AIADMK founded by MG Ramachandran in the hands of the party cadre. The party should be saved from traitors. It is time to join hands and fight DMK. This is what the AIADMK cadre wants. It is time for us to unite. EPS is anti-national and DMK is our enemy,” Dhinakaran said after meeting with OPS for over 40 minutes.
Speculation is rife that OPS, Dhinakaran and Sasikala will join hands to claim Jayalalithaa’s legacy. Sasikala has gone so far as to say that she is the “real general secretary” and that she will unite the AIADMK ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“We informed Chinnamma (Sasikala) about the meeting. He is not in the city. We will meet him very soon,” the OPS said.
For the OPS, it has come a full circle in their equation since their first rebellion against Sasikala soon after Jayalalithaa’s death in December 2016. With almost all doors closed for him, he this week met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son-in-law and a key DMK powerhouse, Sabarisan.
When asked about the meeting, the OPS said it had nothing to do with politics.
Meanwhile, Palaniswami united all the different factions of the AIADMK and took the top position in the party. However, caste equations may prove difficult for the AIADMK now if the OPS manages to garner the Mukulthor community, a key caste Hindu vote bank, behind it. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the OPS’s sudden moves may hamper Palaniswami’s works.
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