Kadambur Raju rejects AMMK’s call for merger without OPS

“AIADMK was formed by late chief minister MG Ramachandran, to counter the DMK and its corruption. In the past, the party had stood alone and had successfully defeated the DMK and so the party need not have to merge with any other party,” said Kadambur Raju, who went to inspect the ongoing construction works at the Jayalalithaa memorial on the Marina beach.

Thangatamilselvan, on Sunday, in a press meet in Tirunelveli, called for merging the AIADMK with the AMMK. “If the AIADMK wins all 20 seats in the upcoming bypolls, the AMMK will merge with the AIADMK but if the AMMK manages to win the bypoll, the AIADMK should merge with us,” he said.

Thangatamilselvan also said that they do not see the AIADMK as their enemy as 90 per cent of the cadres are with them. “Only a few party functionaries are clinging on to the ruling party for some benefits and apart from them all the cadres are with us,” he claimed.

He further said that the DMK is their only enemy and due to the split in the AIADMK as AMMK and ruling camp, the DMK is scoring politically.

“This should not happen and if we both join hands before the bypolls then we can secure all the seats,” he said.

However, Thangatamilselvan laid certain rules for merger and listed the names of the politicians who they do not want in the party after the merger. “(Deputy Chief Minister) Panneerselvam was the person who was responsible for blocking the AIADMK party name and symbol and with 11 MLAs he moved a no-confidence motion, but he was readmitted into the party. Keep away people like Panneerselvam before the merger,” demanded Thangatamilselvan.

Terming the BJP as a non-secular party, Thangatamilselvan said that AMMK will never ally with the BJP. “AMMK will prefer to go alone in the bypolls and parties who wish to join us can do so,” he said.

However, his call for merger of the AIADMK with the AMMK was refused by the AIADMK. “As announced by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister Panneerselvam if they realise their mistake and return to the party we are ready to accept them but there is no chance for us going to them and abiding with their merger conditions,” stated Kadambur Raju.