AIADMK: Here's What Led The Party From Split To Merger

Roberto Lindsey

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam. PTI File

AIADMK legislators unanimously chose Sasikala as the leader of AIADMK Legislature Party.

Aug 18: Dhinakaran meets Sasikala at Parapana Agrahara Prison in Bengaluru on her birthday. Meanwhile, sidelined AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran held deliberations with supporters at his residence here.

Confirming that the two had got back their posts, R. Vaithilingam, organising secretary of the AIADMK, told The Hindu that this was done as it was former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa who had appointed them.

EPS will continue to be the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

"Our first priority will be to retrieve the two leaves symbol".

December 7, 2016: Following the demise of J Jayalaltitha, senior party leader O Panneerselvam took oath as the new CM of Tamil Nadu at the Raj Bhawan in presence of Governor Vidyasagar Rao and other party leaders.

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Paneerselvam was made the Coordinator of the merged AIADMK. Two of his loyalists will also find a place in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet. Dinakaran was suspended by Jayalalithaa in 2011. After the merger, E Palaniswami thanked Panneerselvam and said the party is now committed to fulfil the dreams of former CM J Jaylalitha known as "Amma" and MG Ramachandran one of the founding members of the party.

To make the transition in the government less awkward, Mr Palaniswami or EPS will play deputy to OPS in the party. His nephew Dinakaran would have been wise to follow his example, but ambition overpowered his more cautious instincts, and it became clear as soon as EPS settled into the Chief Minister's chair that Dinakaran himself was raring to become the CM. Sources from Dhinakaran said they would move the court against the merger of two AIADMK groups. Besides, there was the possibility of a splinter group emerging from within, leading to another political confusion, he said, adding modalities and formalities might have been settled before the merger and formation of the new ministry.

The united AIADMK with Palaniswami as the Chief Minister and Panneerselvam as the Deputy Chief Minister are also reportedly on the verge of expelling VK Sasikala.

AIADMK laws now do not permit the removal of a general secretary by a resolution passed by a committee or group of office bearers. After she took over the leadership of the AIADMK following Jayalalithaa's death, Panneerselvam revolted.

In 2014, he took charge as the Chief Minister yet again as Jayalalithaa was convicted again in the same case.