In what is being hailed as ‘August Revolution’ in the AIADMK, senior leaders in the party launched 'Quit Dhinakaran' movement to free the party from the clutches of the powerful Mannargudi family. The move will also unveil a new formula for the BJP to step into Tamil Nadu politics stronger than ever.
The ruling faction of AIADMK, led by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy, passed a resolution against party deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran and declared 64 appointments made by him last week, null and void.
“The merger is possible only if both our demands of ordering a probe into Amma’s death and the complete ouster of the entire Mannargudi family from the party are met,” said former minister K.P. Munusamy, from the O. Panneerselvam faction. The resolution passed by Palanisamy with the signatures of 27 party seniors in the ruling faction cancelled all the appointments made by Dhinakaran null and void. Though it restrained from expelling Dhianakran and his aunt Sasikala from the party, sources said, “This resolution will have to be looked at as a prelude to that.” The resolution, according to sources, is like clipping the wings of the influential family.
“The resolution against Dhinakaran indicates the fate of Mannargudi family in the coming days. PM Modi doesn’t want any regional satraps. We should look at this in an all India perspective. J. Jayalalithaa was a regional satrap. She is dead now. Karunanidhi has fallen silent. And in Bengal Mamata Banerjee, who was strong enough in 2014, may not be able to give the same fight in 2019. And Nitish Kumar, who was one of the major Modi baiters with a charm, has also fallen prey to the BJP. The picture is very clear if we look at the resolution in this background,” says senior journalist R Ramasubramanian.
While this has been the main demand of the Panneerselvam camp from day one as a condition for merger, this resolution is an indication as to how the Palanisamy is emerging stronger day by day. “Everyone said Palanisamy is silent and he should speak out...This (move) tells that he is emerging stronger, making Dhinakaran go out and weakening Panneerselvam as far as possible,” said political analyst Raveenthran Thuraisamy.
However, Thursday’s move by Palanisamy, a few hours before boarding his flight to Delhi to take part in the vice president's swearing in ceremony on August 11, was only to tell the 'Big Boss' in Delhi, that everything is moving ahead as discussed. In fact, a united AIADMK would not need Dhinakaran, Sasikala or anyone from the Mannargudi family, not because they are corrupt, but because the former has the potential to consolidate the party and has already earned the charm through his way of handling things.
Within hours after passing the resolution Dhinakaran was quick to react. “If the appointments made by Sasikala hold right, then the appointments made by me cannot be declared null and void. After Panneerselvam had quit the party Dindigul S. Srinivasan was appointed as the party’s treasurer by Sasikala. I too was appointed by her,” he said.
Calling the CM a fraudster, he said, “ Palanisamy filed an affidavit in ECI mentioning me as the deputy general secretary of AIADMK and now says my appointment is invalid.” Dhinakaran’s gesture again indicated that he cannot be written off easily and that he will continue to be a thorn in the flesh. Besdies, given the DNA of the AIADMK which has in the past three decades travelled with the influence of Sasikala clan, it would be foolhardy to write off Dhinakaran.
A complete picture of the merger and Dhinakaran’s fate in the party is likely to emerge after Venkaiah Naidu takes oath as the vice president. Palanisamy is all set to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Commerce and Industries Minister Nirmala Seetharaman and other leaders in the BJP. Panneerselvam too, is likely to call on the PM thus making the merger apparent in the near future.
Sources say the merger and the deal means a lot for both the factions of AIADMK. Panneerselvam, who has almost become irrelevant and with some of the legislators moving to the CM's camp in the recent days, is forced to go with Palanisamy. Again, sources say, the deal has been clinched based on the power shuffle within the party and the government. It is strongly rumoured that Panneerselvam will be inducted into the government and will have a prominent say in the party. Insiders say a new formula leading to a new math has been worked out with the advise of the 'Big Boss' in Delhi – Panneerselvam and Palanisamy ruling the party without Dhinakaran in the picture which will lead the party to hold lucrative portfolios in the Centre.