Sasi’s parole visit silenced Divakaran

Before her visit, Divakaran too was in the limelight coming out with various comments on the party’s strategy stating that he too was a member of the party. He had also claimed that about 50 MLAs, including ministers, were opposed to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and the government would be toppled immediately after Palaniswami convened a general council meet of the party. 

Divakaran had openly stated that there was nothing wrong in joining hands with the DMK “for people’s welfare” and he had announced that the AIADMK functionaries would take part in the DMK’s protest against NEET. 

However, during Sasikala’s visit, Divakaran was not seen with her, but sister-in-law Ilavarasi’s son Vivek was visible during her hospital visits. He is also in charge of Jaya TV and he had brought about several changes in Jaya Plus, which is covering topics of wider range and the programmes are oriented towards the youth. Dinakaran is now the only face of the faction, taking part in AIADMK founding day celebrations, Thevar Jayanthi, besides the Marudhu Pandiar brothers Guru Pooja. 

Party insiders said, in the initial stages when the Chief Minister’s faction began sidelining Sasikala’s family, Divakaran was at loggerheads with Dinakaran, who wanted to go on the offensive immediately. At that stage, Divakaran was in favour of a compromise with Palaniswami, who utilised the time to dig himself in. By the time, Divakaran closed ranks with Dinakaran, the Chief Minister had entrenched himself firmly and the family is no more in control of the party or government, a party functionary said. 

However, he added that there is no rift in the family, but only some new arrangements had come into force. Divakaran’s comments about joining hands with the DMK had triggered attacks from the ruling faction that the Sasikala faction had betrayed the legacy of party founder MGR and his successor J Jayalalithaa, who had strongly opposed the DMK.