AIADMK-Amma to nullify Sasikala appointment, merger with OPS faction likely today

The AIADMK-Amma faction led by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is likely to meet today and nullify the appointment of party general secretary V K Sasikala, thus culminating into a merger with the O Panneerselvam group. Inside sources further suggested that all office bearers of the party have been asked to be in Chennai for the meeting at the party headquarter. Until Sunday night, there was no official announcement about such a meeting. 

Hence, it is being assumed that the meeting could be announced at a short notice today morning. The main agenda of the meeting being, nullification of Sasikala's appointment. Discussions will also be made on the merger between the two factions thereafter. Meanwhile, Panneerselvam said, while on his way to pay a tribute to freedom fighter Ondiveeran, "I am confident the merger will happen soon." According to a report by TOI, member of the OPS faction C Ponnaiyan  said that the removal of Dhinakaran as deputy general secretary was signed by 27 out of 33 office bearers at the party headquarters.

He further added, "And, in the absence of a general secretary, the by-laws permit the setting up of a steering committee to oversee party affairs until a new general secretary is elected by all 1.6 crore members of the party , which will take time to complete."

[Read: AIADMK merger: Is OPS eying for a bigger position than just deputy CM? ]

Post-merger, the party is likely to be run by 15 members who will form a steering committee, with the EPS faction getting 8 slots and OPS getting 7 slots. Panneerselvam will be the chairman of the committee and he will be assisted by three deputy chairmen Palaniswami, P Vaithilingam (from EPS camp) and K P Munusamy (OPS supporter). 

Amid the news of the merger, Dhinakaran supporter Nanjil Sampath slammed the two factions saying they were "staging the merger drama scared of the support from cadres for Dhinakaran at the Melur public meeting". While speculations were rife about the merger since Friday, the final culmination is more than certain today as Panneerselvam announces the big merger today morning. Meanwhile, the governor of Tamil Nadu Vidyasagar Rao is said to have headed for Chennai today.  

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