TTV Dinakaran downplays Edappadi K Palaniswami camp's stand against him

Chennai

Beleaguered AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakarantoday sought to downplay the stand taken by the Chief Minister Edappadi KPalaniswami-led camp against him and party interim chief V K Sasikala.

A resolution adopted at a meeting of the chief minister'sfaction yesterday had said the appointment of Dinakaran was against the partyrules and that its cadres have been asked to ignore his directives.

The meeting had also said though Sasikala was made thegeneral secretary following the death of Jayalalithaa in December last year,she could not function in the post now in "view of extraordinarycircumstances".

Downplaying Palaniswami's camp taking a stand against himand Sasikala, Dinakaran today said, "Ministers too are our MLAs, theysupport us".

He said the ministers were acting against him due to some"fear," and only they should explain what it was.

Downplaying rebellion by former chief minister OPanneerselvam, he said some may have separated from the party but it will haveno bearing on the government.

Dinakaran said there will be no threat to the party-rungovernment in Tamil Nadu till such time it continued on the path laid by formerchief minister Jayalalithaa.

Facing onslaught from camps led by both Palaniswami andrebel leader Panneerselvam, he said the incumbent AIADMK regime was ushered inby Jayalalithaa.

He said it was his desire that the government shouldcomplete its five year tenure and go on to win the 2021 Assembly polls too.

"The government will have no problem till such time itgoes on the path laid by Amma...if the train (government) derails from therails (Amma's path), then it will have to face problems," he toldreporters here.

"You should ask this question to the loco pilot andthose on train (chief minister and ministers), you ask them if the train ismoving on the rails," he said, and added that he was not in thegovernment.

He, however, reiterated that when warranted he would resortto "surgical action."

Reacting to the developments, Dinakaran had yesterday put upa brave face even as he stopped short of announcing action against the chiefminister for the virtual coup against him.

"I have the authority to take action against anybodywho is acting against party's interest," he had said.

"For sure, all steps will be taken for party growth. Ifthe situation warrants, surgeries will be performed.

Prospects of a merger of the two factions of the AIADMKbrightened with the Palaniswami-led Amma camp yesterday moving against theappointment of Sasikala's nephew Dinakaran as deputy general secretary.

The move by the chief minister's faction was hailed by therebel camp with its chief O Panneerselvam saying a decision 'reflective' ofpeople's expectations would be taken soon.