Post-raids, TTV Dinakaran faces rebellion in own camp

Even as party deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran attempted to downplay the rebellion within the party ranks, voices of dissent against Sasikala’s family members or support for a united AIADMK turned audible in both groups. 

The voice of dissent is louder in the AIADMK (Amma) group after a couple of ministers from western districts, who hold key portfolios, on Thursday night met Lok Sabha deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, who was understood to have brought some confidence-inspiring message from New Delhi where he had called on PM Narendra Modi and Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu early this week. 

Sources in the party even attribute the vehement opposition to Vijaya Baskar’s continuation in the cabinet to Thambidurai’s ‘rendezvous’ with the saffron party leaders. Confirming that a few ministers were baying for Vijaya Baskar’s blood and he would be dropped from the cabinet if the Central agencies get a grip of him in the ongoing I-T probe, which could be transferred to another investigation agency next week, an influential AIADMK leader requesting anonymity admitted that intense backroom negotiations were going on between leaders of both AIADMK (PTA) and AIADMK (Amma) to exploit the situation to upstage Dinakaran and facilitate a party reunion. 

The senior AIADMK leader also reasoned that the negotiators were mulling a ‘united’ AIADMK without the Sasikala clan, meaning the eventual expulsion of Dinakaran, which has the blessing of the BJP national bosses, who foresee a bright political prospect in the event of a Sasikala-free AIADMK cobbling up an alliance with them. 

‘OPS for general secretary and EPS for CM’ seems to be the formula being worked out at the negotiation tables between the two groups now. 

Another reliable source in the party said that a good number of MLAs, who have been relishing the newfound ‘privileges’ since EPS took over the reins, were ready to sacrifice anyone to be in power.

But, it has a catch. At least two dozen AIADMK MLAs, including a handful of ministers from central and southern districts have sworn loyalty to Dinakaran, who could topple the government in the event of the bigwigs staging a coup against him.