Merger talks likely today or tomorrow, says Vaithilingam

Following the announcement, senior leaders of the AIADMK (PTA) went into a huddle on Wednesday evening. Reliable sources confirmed that they had got a formal invitation for the talks from the AIADMK (A) faction and were discussing further action. Earlier in the day, AIADMK (A) senior ministers, including Chief Minister Edapadi K Palanisamy, continued to meet district secretaries at the party office. On Wednesday, the leaders met 14 district secretaries from the northern belt, while 

Thursday’s meeting is meant for those from the state’s western belt.

Blaming the BJP for Dinakaran’s arrest and the removal of Sasikala banners from the party office, AIADMK(A) spokesperson Nanjil Sampath said, “This would not remove Dinakaran and Sasikala from the hearts of party cadre. The octopus arms of the BJP have now come up to the entrance of the party office on Royapettah’s Avvai Shanmugam Road.

Meanwhile, AIADMK(PTA) senior KP Munusamy told newsmen at OPS residence that differences between brothers could be settled if a congenial atmosphere prevailed. Welcoming the removal of banners with the picture of VK Sasikala from the party office, he said this had created a congenial atmosphere for talks to begin.