With TTV Dhinakaran making it clear that he will be stepping back into active politics of the AIADMK (Amma) faction, Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisami has his work cut out.
In what seems to be an effort to counter the Deputy General secretary's 'takeover bid', EPS held an hour-long discussion with top ministers and leaders of his faction on Tuesday at the party headquarters.
According to reports, the leaders discussed the ongoing MGR centenary celebrations and the 'welfare of the party'. All ministers excluding the Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, who is currently in the capital, were present. A closed door meeting was also reportedly held at the office of the deputy general secretary.
Soon after Palaniswami began the meeting, Dhinakaran reportedly announced that he would meet his aunt and the interim general secretary of the party VK Sasikala in the Bengaluru prison on Wednesday.
From TTV's faction, Thalavai Sundaram was one of the few leaders present at the meeting.
In what seemed to be an attempt to hold ground, Finance Minister D Jayakumar said, “Our party with a base of 1.5 crore cadres is a strong fort built by Puratchi Thalaivi (Jayalalithaa). The party and government function effectively under the leadership of Palaniswami and with utmost discipline just like in the past. We are not bothered about anyone."
The EPS camp further claimed that doors for a merger were kept open. However, they made it clear that they would not give in, to the demands of the OPS faction for a takeover of the post of party head and of the government.