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Two Leaves: O Panneerselvam likely to return to AIADMK as ministers welcome merger

We discussed the modalities of strengthening the unity of the part, said Finance minister D Jayakumar.

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Amid talks about coming together of rival AIADMK factions led by TTV Dhinakaran and O Panneerselvam (OPS), AIADMK ministers have welcomed the rebel and former chief minister’s statement indicating his wish for merger.

The development came after the Delhi Police booked AIADMK (Amma) leader TTV Dhinakaran for allegedly trying to bribe an Election Commission official in a failed bid to obtain the coveted "two-leaves" party symbol for his faction.

“We welcome Panneerselvam’s statement favouring merger of two factions. After the consulting along with chief minister at the secretariat, we had a discussion on unitedly getting back party’s two leaves symbol," said senior minister SP Velumani

Velumani also said that they will function as per the wish of the party cadres. "Those who went out also part of our family. We will come together and work unitedly,” he added.

When asked the need for holding a meeting in the absence of Deputy General Secretary TTV Dinakaran, Law minister C.V. Shanmugham said final decision would be taken after his arrival from Bengaluru on Tuesday.                        

Finance minister D Jayakumar said that all the 123 MLAs and ministers are united in welcoming the OPS statement. "We discussed the modalities of strengthening the unity of the party," he said.

Earlier on Monday, speculations swirled about a possible pact between Palaniswami and Panneerselvam under which both VK Sasikala, the jailed AIADMK general secretary, and Dhinakaran, her nephew and deputy, would be ousted.

The Election Commission had frozen the two-leaves symbol after both Panneerselvam and Sasikala-Dhinakaran factions staked claim to it ahead of the now countermanded April 12 byelection to RK Nagar assembly constituency.

There was reportedly unease in Tamil Nadu's ruling party ever since Income Tax officials raided Health Minister Vijayabaskar's premises and seized evidence of bribing voters for the bypoll to R K Nagar assembly seat.

The poll, scheduled for April 12, was countermanded by the Election Commission on April 9 amid allegations of rampant inducement and bribing of voters.
Dhinakaran was the candidate of AIADMK (Amma) faction for the seat

Sasikala had reinducted Dhinakaran, who was expelled from the AIADMK by Jayalalithaa, and appointed him the party's deputy general secretary just before proceeding to Bengaluru to serve the remnant of her jail term after the Supreme Court upheld her conviction and sentence in February this year. 

(With PTI inputs)

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