21 Aug 2017 was marked as the golden day in the history of Tamil Nadu politics as both the EPS and OPS factions of AIADMK announced its merger from the party office in Chennai.
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and the current Chief Minister E. Palaniswamy together announced the merger chanting the slogan of ‘one mother, one party and one family’. However this merger may just be the begin of another major chnage in the political equation in the state. OPS faction had agreed for the merger only on the condition if Jayalalitha‘s close aquantaince Sasikala be expelled from the party.
O Panneerselvam was scheduled to reach the party office by noon on Monday, but his delay raised questions on the merger. However all spectulations were put to rest when the merger was announced. In his statement to ET a spokesperson in the Panneerselvam camp “We had categorically said that we needed an assurance that she (Sasikala) would be out, or else the whole thing (merger) would be meaningless. They (Palaniswami camp) accepted last night (but) now, they are going back.”
Following the merger both the leaders visited the memorial of Jayalalitha on Marina Beach and soon after to Raj Bhavan for the swearing in of Pannerselvam sa the Deputy Chief Minister.
Meanwhile an uneasy silence was observed outside Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran’s house which was visited by 18 AIADMK MLAs on Monday. CR Sarawswati, a spokesperson for Dhinakaran camp, said in the matter of expelling Sasikala only EC could take a stand. She said that as a matter of fact At least seven lakh AIADMK cadres have submitted petitions to EC with the name of Sasikala as the general secretary. If the 18 MLAs threatens to quit, AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu may come under pressure.
Regarding the building suspence over the resignation of the 18 MLAs supporting Dhinakaran AIADMK responded that the party is confident of sailing through any such threat, with some members terming the merger as the “golden day in the history of AIADMK”.
