Since the demise of Jayalalithaa in December last, the four- decade-old AIADMK had gone through a sea of changes, from accepting her longtime aide as its general secretary to a split. The government too saw three chief ministers within a span of a year.
On Monday , the two major factions led by former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami merged.
Here is a timeline of events:
December 5, 2016: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa passes way 74 days after she was admitted to Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. The same day, Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao administers oath of office to O. Panneerselvam as Chief Minister.
A poster of V.K. Sasikala, projecting her as the next AIADMK leader seen in Royapettah, Chennai | Photo Credit: R. Ragu
December 29, 2016: The AIADMK general council unanimously passes a resolution appointing V.K. Sasikala, close aide of Jayalalithaa, as general secretary of the party. The resolution says that until the formal election process is completed, she will hold all powers that come with the post.
February 4, 2017: Expelled AIADMK Rajya Sabha member Sasikala Pushpa submits “letter of dissent” to the Election Commission on the “undemocratic nomination” of Sasikala as the interim general secretary of the AIADMK.
February 5, 2017: Exactly two months after Jayalalithaa’s death, Sasikala was “unanimously” elected leader of the Legislature Party at a meeting in the party headquarters, paving the way for her to become the third woman Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Mr. Panneerselvam sends his resignation to the Governor’s office, which gets accepted the next day.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam at the Jayalalithaa memorial in Chennai.
February 7, 2017: After a prolonged meditation at Jayalalithaa’s memorial, Mr. Panneerselvam tells journalists that he was compelled to resign from his post and “humiliated while holding the high office.” The same night, Sasikala calls him a “traitor” and expells himfrom the post of party treasurer.
February 8-12, 2017: In the next few days, party leaders and office-bearers switch sides. Some prominent faces join Mr. Panneerselvam, including presidium chairman Madhusudhanan, ‘Mafoi’ Pandiarajana, K.P. Munuswamy, JCD Prabhakaran, and Ponnaiyan. Read more:Who is who in AIADMK camps
February 11, 2017: Madhusudhanan asks the Election Commission to reject Sasikala’s election as party chief. Sasikala expels him from the party post, to which he ‘expels’ Sasikala, claiming he has the rights to do so.
V.K. Sasikala is consoled by a woman on her way to Poes Garden after she left Golden Bay Resorts in Koovathur, on the outskirts of Chennai on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: PTI
February 12, 2017: AIADMK MLAs supporting Sasikala are lodged at Golden Bay Resorts in Koovathur, near Chennai. The move comes after as many as six MLAs pledged support to Mr. Panneerselvam.
February 14, 2017: The Supreme Court convicts Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case. Since it is imminent that she will have to go to jail, Edappadi K. Palaniswami is elected as Leader of Legislative Party. She appoints her nephew TTV Dhinakaran as party's deputy general secretary.
AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala at the Jayalalithaa memorial in Chennai on Wednesday before leaving for Bengaluru to surrender before a special court. According to the party’s official Twitter handle she took a vow to “overcome the conspiracy, treachery and crisis against” her. | Photo Credit: K.V. Srinivasan
February 16, 2017: Mr. Palaniswami is sworn in as Chief Minister, but MLAs continue to stay in the resort. The Cabinet is largely left unchanged with rebel leaders Mr. Panneerselvam and Mr. Pandiarajan not finding a berth.
February 18, 2017: The AIADMK government, led by Chief Minister Palaniswami proves its majority in the Assembly, winning 122 votes in favour and 11 against, following the eviction of DMK MLAs and walkout of Congress and IUML members.
Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar with her husband at the launch of her party ‘MGR Amma Deepa Peravai’, at her residence in Chennai on February 24, 2017.
February 24, 2017: Jayalalithaa’s neice Deepa Jayakumar takes the political plunge by launching the MGR Amma Deepa Peravai. She also says she will contest in the by-election to R.K. Nagar — Jayalalithaa’s constituency.
March 9, 2017: Election Commission announces that by-election to the R.K. Nagar seat will be held on April 12. Madhusudhanan, TTV Dhinakaran, and Deepa announce that they will contest the bypoll.
March 22, 2017: The Election Commission freezes the AIADMK’s “Two Leaves” symbol, prohibiting its use in the byelection.
March 23, 2017: The Panneerselvam camp is given the name AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) and the ruling faction gets the name AIADMK (Amma). The Election Commission allots electric pole symbol to the former and hat to AIADMK (Amma), while Deepa gets the boat.
Smoking the peace pipe: T.T.V. Dhinakaran says his party is ready to take back those who left it. | Photo Credit: B_JOTHI RAMALINGAM
April 9, 2017: The Election Commission cancels the by-election, based on evidence of large scale bribing of voters by the AIADMK (Amma).
April 17, 2017: Mr. Dhinakaran is booked for allegedly attempting to bribe Election Commission officials to get the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol. The same night, Ministers decide to keep Sasikala’s family away from the party.
April 21, 2017: In the first sign of a possible merger, the factions form panels to begin talks. The Panneerselvam camp sets three pre-conditions: ouster of Sasikala and her family from the party, probe into Jayalalithaa’s death, and conversion of Jayalalithaa’s residence into a public memorial.
April 25, 2017: The pre-condition rules don’t go down well with the ruling faction. The Chief Minister rejects it.
April 26, 2017: Mr. Dhinakaran is arrested for his alleged bid to bribe election commission officials.
June 8, 2017: The rift between Mr. Palaniswami and Mr. Dhinakaran widens. Thirty-two MLAs pledge their support to Mr. Dhinakaran. However, MLAs supporting him say they will not withdraw support to the government.
June 11, 2017: Mr. Panneerselvam officially disbands the panel, which was meant to discuss merger, two months after it was set up. Though each side created a panel comprising seven members each, they never met for talks.
V.C. Arukutty (second right), MLA from the Kavundampalayam constituency in Coimbatore, formally joinrf AIADMK (Amma), in Salem. | Photo Credit: E. Lakshmi Narayanan
July 23, 2017: V.C. Arukutty, Kavundampalayam MLA switches from Panneerselvam camp to the AIADMK (Amma) faction. He was one of the early supporters of Mr. Panneerselvam.
August 4, 2017: Mr. Dhinakaran appoints 64 persons, including 20 MLAs, to different positions in the party. He also announces his plan to tour different parts of the State.
But, Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar says both the party and the government are functioning under the leadership of Mr. Palaniswami.
August 10, 2017: The AIADMK (Amma) faction “nullifies” Mr. Dhinakaran’s appointments as party deputy general secretary. But Mr. Dhinakran claims only Sasikala can oust him.
August 13, 2017: At a time when the three factions are fighting it out, party mouthpiece Dr. Namadhu MGRrepublishes a letter written by Sasikala (since jailed) on January 16 this year, appealing for unity. The party organ is under the control of the Sasikala family.
AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran being presented a sceptre at the public meeting to mark MGR birth centenary celebration in Melur near Madurai on Monday. | Photo Credit: R. Ashok
August 14, 2017: At least 20 MLAs and six MPs attend the birth centenary celebrations of MGR, organised by the Dhinakaran-led faction of the AIADMK (Amma), in Melur.
August 16, 2017: Mr. Dhinakaran claims there was no link between the Chief Minister-led government and the party. He goes on to say some Ministers and office-bearers were working to “capture the party through the back door” and asks them to reform themselves.
August 17, 2017: The government announces that an inquiry commission headed by a retired High Court judge would be constituted to probe the death of Jayalalithaa. The Chief Minister also says that ‘Veda Nilayam’, residence of Jayalalithaa in Poes Garden, would be converted into a public memorial.
August 21, 2017: 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 merge.
Mr. Panneerselvam is made the Deputy Chief Minister. Mr. Pandiarajan also gets a Cabinet berth.