The new trigger for the OPS camp to harden its stand was Finance Minister D Jayakumar's offer to give up his finance portfolio to Panneerselvam for the sake of party's unity and to ensure continuity of EPS government
The merger talks between the two factions of the AIADMK was stalled again after former chief minister O Panneerselvam-led camp hardened its stand following contradictory statements from leaders of Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami-led group. The talks were earlier expected to resume on Monday evening.
The new trigger for the OPS camp to harden its stand was Finance Minister D Jayakumar's offer to give up his finance portfolio to Panneerselvam for the sake of party's unity and to ensure continuity of EPS government. Also, the party's organ Dr Namadhu MGR continued to carry stories on cadres backing 'ousted' party general secretary VK Sasikala and her deputy TTV Dinakaran.
Former minister KP Munusamy of the OPS camp said the talks could be held only if the two conditions — CBI probe into Jayalalithaa's death and expulsion of Sasikala and her family from the party — are met. "There is so much confusion among them and they are making contradictory statements. One person says a committee has been constituted for talks with us and other says the committee is yet to be set up. Their leaders are talking to media in an irresponsible way just like what Jayakumar said on Sunday," he said, noting that they should exercise some restraint after agreeing for talks. "We waited two days for them to call us, but they kept making different statements," he said.
Palaniswami camp, however, denied this. "They were announcing conditions on media. Pre-conditions only create hurdles," said Rajya Sabha MP R Vaithilingam, who heads the seven-member committee of AIADMK Amma faction to hold talks with the OPS team.
The political observers here, however, opine that the reunion talks are getting delayed as both factions are not willing to give up their claim on the chief minister's post.
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