Six months after the AIADMK split into two factions, the Puratchi Thalaivi Amma (PTA) faction, headed by former Chief Minister O. Paneerselvam, and the other, AIADMK (Amma), headed by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, formally merged on Monday.
Here are the live updates:
4.40 pm: Mr. Panneerselvam sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. 'MaFoi' K. Pandiarajan sworn-in as member of the ruling council.
Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar says date for general council meeting to remove V.K. Sasikala will be announced soon.
4.20 pm: Ministers begin to arrive at Raj Bhavan for the swearing-in ceremony.
3:50 pm: AIADMK leaders pay a visit to the Jayalalithaa memorial and offer floral tributes.
3:30 pm: In the meanwhile, a press release from the Governor's office says Mr. Panneerselvam will be sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister. 'Ma Foi' K. Pandiarajan will also be sworn in as Minister. The swearing-in will be held at 4:30 pm.
3:20 pm: ''I thank O. Panneerselvam and Edappadi K. Palaniswami for all their efforts for this merger,'' says former Minister K.P. Munusamy, who has been appointed as the party's joint coordinator.
''People thought this party will fade away after Amma's demise, but it's the soul of Puratchi Thalaivi that has made this merger a reality,'' he says. Mr. Munuswamy lauds Mr. Panneerselvam and Mr. Palaniswami saying they have reached this position having started their career as ordinary cadres.
3.07 pm: Two warring AIADMK factions announce merger
"We have taken the decision to work together keeping in mind the wishes of the AIADMK cadres. We have faced numerous hurdles after Jayalalithaa's death," says Mr. Palaniswami. "Today is a historical day. We have given a fitting reply to our detractors. Our aim is to fulfill the dreams of our leaders."
O. Panneerselvam to be party co-ordinator; Palaniswami and K.P. Munusamy to be joint coordinators. A 11-member steering committee will guide the party, announces the Chief Minister. "We will retrieve the 'Two Leaves' symbol and win over our opponents," he says.
R. Vaithialingam has been made the party's deputy coordinator.
3.00 pm: Mr. Palaniswami and Mr. Panneerselvam shake hands.Mr. Panneerselvam address party functionaries, says ''we are children of Amma Jayalalithaa.''
Other leaders from the Panneerselvam camp,Madhusudhanan and Dr. B. Maitreyan share dais with Mr. Panneerselvam and Mr. Palaniswami. "The AIADMK is an iron fort built by the late Chief Minister Amma. We are united in spirit, no one can divide us; we are all Amma's children," says Mr. Paneerselvam.
He also thanks Mr. Palaniswami's efforts that went into uniting the two factions. "I am very happy to see you all again. I am relieved of the burden I have been carrying for the past six months," he says. "I will continue to work for the development of he party as a party worker."
2:45 pm: Mr. Panneerselvam is accompanied by Mr. Munusamy and Natham R. Viswanathan.
2.40 pm: Mr. Paneerselvam arrives at the AIADMK headquarters in Royapettah. Mr. Palaniswami is already present there.
This is Mr. Panneerselvam's first visit to the party headquarters after he stepped down from the Chief Minister post six months ago.
2.22 pm: ''If we should not pull down the government, Mr. Palaniswami should fall at T.T.V. Dhinakaran's feet, says Nanjil Sampath
2.15 pm: Mr. Panneerselvam heads to party headquarters, a joint press conference of Mr. K. Palaniswami and Mr. Panneerselvam is to take place.
2.10 pm: Sasikala's ouster agreed upon - 'MaFoi' Pandiarajan tells The Hindu
2.10 pm: Mr. Palaniswami heads to the party headquarters. Mr. Panneerselvam's supporters have been directed to go to the party headquarters. Manoj Pandian and Ponnaiyan leave.
2.00 pm: Ministers Mr. Velumani and Mr. Thangamani and MP Mr. Vaithilingam arrive at the residence of Mr. Panneerselvam.
11:40 am Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao is likely to arrive in Chennai by afternoon.
11:30 am Sources said that once the merger is complete, the unified AIADMK will convene a meeting and pass necessary resolutions to amend the bylaws of the party. There are plans to amend the bylaws to ensure that a working committee can run the party, with the powers of the general secretary vested with the leader of the working committee. One of the compromise formula offered to the AIADMK (PTA) faction is nominating Mr. Panneerselvam as leader of the working committee.
11:25 am Sources in Mr. Panneerselvam faction say the former Chief Minister is likely to visit the party headquarters later in the day.
11:20 am A midnight meeting between representatives of the two factions on Friday brought the two sides closer to merger.
Broadly, two issues – accommodation within the Cabinet and in the party – were deliberated upon.
Apart from Mr. Panneerselvam, two more – Semmalai and K. Pandiarajan – may be inducted into the Cabinet.
11:05 am Some AIADMK (Amma) MLAs supporting Mr. Dhinakaran are holding a meeting at his Adyar residence, reports Dennis Jesudasan.
11:00 am Senior AIADMK (Amma) leader and State Finance Minister D. Jayakumar has indicated that merger could take place on Monday.
When quizzed by mediapersons about the ongoing talks between the rival groups, he said on Sunday, “Whatever happened has happened for good. Whatever is to happen will be good too and would happen tomorrow.”
10:45 am : The development comes days after the Tamil Nadu government accepted the AIADMK (PTA)'s two key demands for merger — a probe into former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's death and conversion of her Poes Garden residence into a memorial.
The third demand was the ouster of AIADMK general secretary Sasikala and her family members from the party. Last week, at a party meeting chaired by Mr. Palaniswami, a resolution was adopted, shunning party deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran.