It's me alone who can merge the EPS and the OPS factions: TTV Dhinakaran

Announcing a new set of office bearers, bringing his own loyalists into the picture, TTV Dhinakaran threw a challenge at Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami saying that there is no one who can stop him from entering the AIADMK headquarters. He also announced a state tour from August 14 to mobilise the party cadre in his favour.

Addressing a press meeting, Dhinakaran said he would visit the party headquarters on Avvai Shanmugham Salai "whenever he wished" and nobody including the police had any right to prevent him from entering the premises, which he considered as his second home. He also said that he was a silent spectator for the past two months as he was waiting for the merger of EPS and OPS factions. But when that did not happen, he announced additional office bearers to prepare the party for a sweep in the 2019 Parliament elections. He also insisted that he is the only one capable of unifying the AIADMK. 

He said, "I will continue to lead the party in the absence of general secretary Chinamma even if the merger takes place. Everyone should understand that the only person who has the right to expel anyone from the party is the general secretary and in her absence, only I can expel. And no one can expel us." He also said that he and Sasikala had the maximum support and only a few including the Finance Minister D Jayakumar had said that he and Sasikala should be kept away from the party.

Upholding the contribution of Sasikala in the making of the party, he said, "If she (Sasikala) had left the place (Koovathur resort without announcing the CM's name), they would have known (their real situation). It was Chinamma who installed this government and everyone should realise that." He believes that the two factions have a few minor misunderstandings, which can be sorted soon. He also said, "Taking action against anyone would not take even a minute, but that's not the right thing to do."

Dhinakaran will start his statewide trip from Melur in Madurai district. His final statement to the reporters were, "People who have worked for the party have been rewarded. My only aim is to ensure that the party sweeps the LS polls. Meanwhile, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K Palaniswami announced a series of protest  after the appointment of new office bearers. This came after former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam announced that he would lead a stir against the ruling government for its inability to tackle the Dengue situation in the state. 

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