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It was a major show of strength for ‘ousted’ AIADMK (Amma) General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran at Madurai on Monday. While 20 MLAs paraded before the cameras, the venue at Melur saw over 20,000 supporters, in what has come as a major shot in the arm for Dhinakaran even as the AIADMK factions led by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and former CM O Panneerselvam appear closer to a merger.
TTV Dhinakaran took the stage as an opportunity to announce that he was late chief minister J Jayalalithaa's true heir.
While TTV’s car had flower petals thrown onto its bonnet, party supporters surrounded his vehicle as he entered the venue to founder MGR’s songs.
When he did reach the stage, Dhinakaran let loose a scathing attack against the ruling government and even took potshots at the DMK. For the ousted Deputy General Secretary, this rally proved to be an attempt to appropriate the legacy of Jayalalithaa. TTV thundered:
With the OPS faction demanding the removal of the Sasikala family from the AIADMK as a condition for the merger, Dhinakaran noted:
While 20 MLAs appeared on the stage in Melur, Dhinakaran accused EPS of attempting hiding some of the AIADMK legislators so that they failed to attend the meeting. Dhinakaran alleged:
Ahead of the meeting, three Independent MLAs U Thaniyarasu, S Karunas and Thameemun Ansari extended support to Dhinakaran.
TTV, however, denied that the meeting was called to topple the government, and accused some of spreading false propaganda. Appealing to the party cadre, TTV said:
Accusing the EPS faction of deciding the fate of thousands of party cadre, Dhinakaran said:
TTV also said:
TTV also reminded his supporters that he had been in the party since 1987 and that most of the MLAs and ministers were identified by him. While accusing the BJP of attempting to gain power in Tamil Nadu through the backdoor, Dhinakaran also urged the AIADMK MLAs to not be afraid. TTV hit out:
The former Rajya Sabha MP also lashed out at former CM O Panneerselvam and his dharma yudham.
“Those people who demand a CBI enquiry on Jayalalithaa’s death should first realise they were same people who were in important positions when she was hospitalised,” said TTV, even as he welcomed a CBI probe into the late CM’s death.
“Let people know the truth. We will also cooperate, we are not afraid.”
(This story was first published on TNM and has been republished with permission)
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