Edappadi K Palanisamy ‘leaning’ on Centre to save government

That state Finance Minister D Jayakumar on Thursday said, “Only they (OPS camp) would stand to lose if they don’t turn up for talks.” This was a result of the feelers the AIADMK (Amma) camp had received from saffron leaders in the national capital. 

Sources close to the party leadership told DTNext that the Chief Minister had established fruitful contacts with BJP president Amit Shah, through a liaison holding Constitutional post in one of the southern states at present. 

However, it did not discourage the CM from engaging a minister holding a key portfolio from Kongu region to hold parleys with the BJP high command through an influential city based Hindutva lobbyist, apparently, taking the wind out of the sails of OPS camp. 

Party insider’s privy to the development said that TTV Dinakaran had announced his voluntary withdrawal from the party affairs only after EPS delivered the “encouraging messages” to him on the longevity of the government. 

Meanwhile, sources in the party are expecting a statement from jailed AIADMK (Amma) general secretary VK Sasikala on Friday. 

They are hoping that she will express her willingness to “make any sacrifice” for the party and steer it in the course charted by ‘Akka’ (Jayalalithaa). Sasikala might also courier some message through her nephew Vivek Jayaraman and AIADMK Karnataka unit secretary Pugazendhim, who are likely to meet her at Parappana Agrahara prison at 11am on Friday, sources disclosed. They are also expecting the announcement of minor organisational shakeup, especially the appointment of a new party spokesperson. Though the rejig was initially tipped to comprise the ‘rise’ of a political greenhorn from the clan, sources said the budding politician wanted it deferred till the dust settled in the cases involving the family.