Conflicting voices delay merger

Later in the day, OPS’s group leader and MP V Maitreyan, replying to Jayakumar’s poser, said, “The Salem unit might have adopted a resolution, but the cadre and public want a united AIADMK to retrieve the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol.” 

He further said, “However, we are yet to get a positive response to our demands. Sasikala’s family is still in the party and the very fact that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy collected affidavits from district secretaries to enable him to run the party in the absence of Sasiskala and Dinakaran proves that they are unable to distance themselves from the Mannargudi family.”

On AIADMK (A) spokesperson Nanjil Sampath’s claim that Dinakaran has the support of 87 MLAs, Maitreyan asked, “If that was true, then why not even a single MLA was present when Dinakaran was brought to Chennai from New Delhi?” 

Meanwhile, Sasikala’s brother V Divakaran has made some backdoor maneuvering to ensure that the family has some grip over the party. Divakaran, who enjoys a close rapport with his brotherin-law M Natarajan and who was even rumoured to have played a part in Dinakaran’s fall, is understood to have put his weight behind AIADMK MP and party organising secretary R Vaithilingam. Divakaran’s camp has suggested a compromise formula where OPS would continue as treasurer and EPS as Chief Minister, while Vaithilingam would be elevated to the office of the general secretary. With 30 plus MLAs in their kitty, the Mannargudi family believes that EPS would oblige to ensure his continuance as the CM. Sources close to the Mannargudi family told DTNext that even OPS would be favourably disposed to such an arrangement, but the real stumbling block would be former Speaker PH Pandian and ex-minister KP Munusamy, who are hell bent on not accommodating any person, who would give Sasikala some hold over the party. 

Vaithilingam’s loyalty to Sasikala clan was well-known, as she had nominated him to Rajya Sabha and appointed him as one of the organising secretaries a week after he was defeated in Orathanadu Assembly seat. 

“By allowing EPS to continue as CM, the family will not antagonise Gounder representatives in the cabinet, who have already opened channels in New Delhi. Also, they will have something lucrative to offer to OPS,” said a leader close to the family. Pertinently, Vaithilingam’s elevation is only a part of an elaborate plan of the Mannargudi family, who have long term plans to secure some party posts for Divakaran’s son Jai Anand and Ilavarasi’s son Vivek.