August 19, 2017: The moves for the merger of two warring factions of the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu have hit a roadblock with differences of opinion prevailing in both the camps.
Leaders of the ‘AIADMK PTA’ led by former chief minister O Panneerselvam and the ruling ‘AIADMK Amma’ party led by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy had separate meetings last evening in Chennai.
They discussed at length about the proposed merger and its after-effects. However, it is said that in the Panneerselvam faction, a majority of the office-bearers voiced their reservations against the unification move.
It led to the cancellation of Mr Panneerselvm’s press meet after the marathon meeting. MLAs and MPs of both the factions and party workers converged in thousands at the mausoleum of late leader Jayalalithaa and the AIADMK headquarters in Chennai, anticipating a merger announcement.
However, they began to disburse after getting indications that the merger may not come through immediately. Some of the AIADMK PTA party office-bearers are said to have insisted that a CBI inquiry must be held to probe Jayalalithaa demise, as against the judicial probe announced by the state government.
They are also said to have highlighted another merger pre-condition of dismissal of Ms VK Sasikala from the party. (AIR News)
