Dhinakaran meets Sasikala, downplays expected AIADMK merger

Downplaying the expected merger of the two AIADMK factions, sidelined AIADMK (Amma) leader T T V Dhinakaran on Friday said it would not last long.

Speaking to reporters here after meeting party chief VK Sasikala at Parapana Agrahara Prison on her birthday, he asserted that the move was not a “setback” for him. He said it was unlike the 1989 unification of the party led by late J Jayalalithaa “which was natural”. The AIADMK had split following the demise of founder leader M G Ramachandran in 1987. The two factions at present are led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and rebel leader and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.

Dhinakaran alleged “they (Palaniswami and Panneerselvam) are doing it for their self-interest to protect their position…that will not have longevity”. He said the merger would not last long if it was done to “safeguard their posts, like a business agreement, leaving away cadres, out of selfishness”. Dhinakaran said when the party merged under the leadership of Jayalalithaa in 1989, it was done in the interests of cadres. However, now the proposed merger move was not in the cadres’ interests, he claimed, adding that their interests were now “different”.

The prospects of merger of the …read more