Former chief minister O.Panneerselam will not be content with mere merger of the two factions of warring AIADMK. His intentions are crystal clear—he wants V.K.Sasikala and her family out.
In a 30 minute press conference at his hometown of Periyakulam, Panneerselvam said that Sasikala cannot hold the post of party general secretary. "Elections should be held for the post," he said.
“Appointment of Sasikala is against the rules of AIADMK. The appointments that she made are null and void. We have petitioned the Election Commission to this effect,” he explained. By stating that the party should not be in the hands of one family, Panneerselvam indicated his actual demands for the merger. “Amma had cast the family out. She allowed Sasikala to rejoin after she apologised. Sasikala promised that she will not hold any party post.”
Panneerselvam further said the party was formed by MGR and nurtured by Jayalalithaa only for the welfare of the people and its cadres. “This is a democratic party, for the people and cadres. If we don't follow this path, it will be an injustice to the public.”
Panneerselvam took a dig at T.T.V.Dinakaran, saying that allegations of the latter bribing the voters of RK Nagar, the IT raids and Delhi police registering a case against Dinakaran brought disrepute to the party. “We have not deviated from our stand. We stick to the basics. Any change in our stand will be an injustice to the people of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK cadres,” he said.
Panneerselvam also demanded an open report of the medical treatment provided to Jayalalithaa. “The treatment provided should be made transparent. An enquiry should be held on this.”
Meanwhile, talking to the media, after a brief meeting with T.T.V. Dinakaran, MLA Vetrivel (who resigned from the RK Nagar constituency in 2015 to allow Jayalalithaa to contest) indicated that, in the name of merger, Panneerselvam’s demands were growing by day. “I don’t know on whose instructions the ministers met last night to announce that we are willing to get together. It is true that we want to be united, but at what cost?” asked Vetrivel.
He further said that the OPS faction was demanding plump posts in the party and government, in case of a merger. “He wants to be made the chief minister. He wants other portfolios like education, public works and home department for his men,” Vetrivel clarified.
