Talk of AMMK-AIADMK merger post Sasi’s release confuses cadre

While party functionaries accept that such talk is doing the rounds, many are reluctant to go on record with their comments due to the fear of losing chances to get a party post. However, the AIADMK cadre is irked over AMMK senior functionaries of Vellore district extending invitations to other party members like Congress to join AMMK.

AMMK Vellore district secretary and former Gudiyattam MLA Jayanthi Padmanabhan has approached a senior Congress functionary in Pernambut to join the AMMK before the release of Sasikala in May or June this year. The Congress functionary seeking anonymity claimed, “She (Jayanthi Padmanabhan) said that if I join their party, I will be given a party ticket for KV Kuppam assembly constituency. She also added that if she doesn’t contest for Gudiyattam seat, I will be accommodated for the assembly constituency.”

According to the seniors in AIADMK, the talk doing the rounds is that the AMMK top brass have decided to merge with the AIADMK as Sasikala also wants to merge the parties. “As our aim is to keep the DMK at bay, we feel that if AMMK joins with us, it will prevent the splitting of vote share,” an AIADMK senior leader averred.

However, AMMK is focusing only on the other party leaders who have influence with the local population which is necessary to ensure a win. The Pernambut Congress leader said, “The qualification in the invitation is that I join AMMK before Sasikala leaves prison as otherwise the party cannot provide assurance of a ticket for assembly elections.”

The sources also revealed, “AMMK leader TTV Dinakaran in his reaction specifically not blaming AIADMK top brass for the Budget is a pointer to this.”