The two warring factions of the AIADMK, led by O Panneerselvam and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami respectively, were reunited on 21 August, six months after the party split following the death of former TN Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
Panneerselvam (or OPS), who had held the post of Chief Minister twice when Jayalalithaa was jailed and again after she died in December, was made Deputy Chief Minister and given the portfolios of Finance, Housing, Urban Development and CMDA in Palaniswami’s cabinet. He has also been named the co-convener of the AIADMK.
On the other hand, VK Sasikala is likely to be removed from the post of AIADMK general secretary, with Rajya Sabha MP R Vaithilingam saying that a general council meeting will be held to discuss the matter soon.
Another MLA Joins TTV-Sasikala Faction
According to ANI, another MLA reached the Puducherry Sunway Manor Resort, taking the total number of MLAs in the TTV-Sasikala faction to 21.
Police Team Enters Resort Housing Protesting MLAs
On Thursday, ANI reported that a police team has entered Puducherry's Windflower Resort where MLAs from TTV Dinakaran's camp have put up. The MLAs had been staying there to protest the merger between the O Panneerselvam and the Edappadi Palaniswami camps.
Earlier during the day P Vetrivel, a Dinakaran supporter, had said they wanted Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanpal to be made the chief minister.
“We never said we will vote against the government,” the MLA added.
Police Reaches Resort Where Protesting MLAs Have Put Up
On Thursday, ANI reported that a police team has entered Puducherry's Windflower Resort where MLAs from TTV Dinakaran's camp have put up. The MLAs had been staying there to protest the merger between the O Panneerselvam and the Edappadi Palaniswami camps.
Dhinakaran Removes Udhayakumar as Secretary of Party Forum
TTV Dhinakaran on Wednesday removed Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar as the secretary of a party forum named after late Jayalalithaa.
He replaced Udhayakumar with MLA S Mariappan Kennedy, a loyalist.
He also removed V V Rajan Chennappa, MLA, as party Madurai urban secretary, a statement said.
Dhinakaran, nephew of V K Sasikala, also appointed some of his supporters to various party posts, two days after the merger of the two factions led by Palaniswami and rebel leader O Panneerselvam, a former chief minister.