Updated by admin on
Thursday, April 20, 2017 05:27 PM IST
Chennai:
The AIADMK (Puratchithalai Amma) party led by former chief minister O Panneerselvam has demanded that the AIADMK (Amma) release resignation letters from V K Sasikala, and her nephew T T V Dhinakaran, and the party's official confirmation that all relatives of Sasikala had been removed from party membership.
The Paneerselvam group also said that the rival faction must inform the Election Commission that Sasikala and Dinakaran no more hold party posts. They were earlier appointed as party general secretary and deputy general secretary. The OPS group also demanded that the state government seek a CBI probe into the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in December last year. Panneerselvam has been demanding a probe into the mysterious death of Jayalalithaa, particularly her illness and treatment provided to her both at her Poes Garden residence and at the Apollo hospital.
These demands by the OPS group on April 20 show that the party is taking a tough stand before entering into any talks with the ruling AIADMK (Amma) group for unity.
After a five-hour-long meeting at Pannerselvam's residence in Chennai on April 20, former minister KP Munuswamy said the party had not made any demands regarding chief ministership or party general secretary. However, he said it is a fact that "the cadres want OPS in both positions."
Munuswamy said there was concern that Mr Dinakaran "stepping aside" was a "drama" and orchestrated in a battle against Dhinakaran allegedly by Sasikala's husband M Natarajan and another nephew Dhivakaran. The OPS camp has made it clear that no one from Sasikala's family must be in the party or government for any attempt at re-uniting the AIADMK to succeed.
Dhinakaran had yesterday ruled out resigning, saying he would have to consult his aunt and boss in jail. Their faction, now led by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, is expected to formally expel them from the party to meet the OPS group's latest demand.
