Banners featuring AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala were on Wednesday pulled down from the party headquarters in Chennai, a move welcomed by the rival Panneerselvam camp.
The removal of the banners and photographs of Sasikala were one of the conditions demanded by O Panneerselvam (OPS) faction to move ahead with a merger with the Sasikala faction of the party.
The OPS faction called the move a ‘positive step’. Though both factions were yet to begin formal talks in open, discussions were underway.
Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam confirmed this to media saying the leaders had discussions on Tuesday night.
An opinion piece published by Namadhu MGR two days ago irked OPS as it praised the Sasikala family and asserted that party cadres will support.
“By removing the Sasikala banners, the OPS faction won the second stage. The crucial part is about the CM post, for which OPS and EPS are still fighting. “Whether Sasikala herself is kept out or not, the merger deal will be sealed if EPS agree to step down as CM,” a minister was quoted as saying.
“Without the family of Sasikala, we are all brothers. We will sort out the differences among ourselves,” said KP Munusamy, heading the talks panel for the OPS faction.
Since both factions have faith in auspicious day, they may commence talks on Friday.
From the cusp of merger, the two AIADMK factions seems to have returned to the familiar zone of uncertainty within just a few hours on Friday. Though details are sketchy still, indications are that it is the trouble within the rebel faction headed by former chief minister O Panneerselvam that is delaying the next step.
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