AIADMK merger talks stalled due to charges, counter-charges

Mrger negotiations expected to begin at the ruling AIADMK's head office in Chennai on Monday evening ran into rough weather.

The faction led by former chief minister O Panneerselvam was provoked by what it described as "loose statements being made by leaders" of the rival camp of Chief Minister E Palaniswamy or EPS.

The ruling AIADMK (Amma) alleged that leaders of the O Panneerselvam group (AIADMK -Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) were looking for reasons to stall merger talks.

OPS camp announced that it was not ready for talks with the ruling group until a CBI probe is recommended into the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa and that V K Sasikala and TTV Dhinakaran are expelled from the party.

Reacting, AIADMK (Amma) faction leader and Rajya Sabha member R Vaithilingam said: "There is a public interest litigation relating to Jayalalithaa's death. The state is ready to set up an inquiry commission or order a CBI probe upon the court order. Secondly, the petition on the appointment of VK Sasikala as general secretary is pending in the Election Commission."

Senior Panneerselvam faction leader and Rajya Sabha member V Maitreyan said Sasikala and Dinakaran should be expelled from the party, which should be freed from the clutches of the “Mannargudi mafia”.

Vaithilingam said Panneerselvam was the Tamil Nadu chief minister for 60 days after Jayalalithaa's death and he could have recommended a CBI probe into the leader's death.