A modest crowd of party workers was present at the AIADMK headquarters on Monday when the two rival factions came together.
Around 10 a.m., only a handful of workers had assembled and only the presence of mediapersons and police personnel was perceptible.
When Ministers D. Jayakumar, C.Ve. Shanmugam and M.C. Sampath arrived, it raised expectations about the “imminent arrival” of AIADMK (PTA) leader O. Panneerselvam. However, by noon when there was no sign of him coming, there were murmurs if it would be a repeat of Friday last when the anticipated merger did not come through. Some party workers had even started dispersing.
Elsewhere outside Mr. Panneerselvam’s Greenways Road bungalow (allotted to ministers), which he had not vacated despite demitting office as Chief Minister six months ago, the mood was relaxed in the morning but turned a little panicky after the merger did not seem to progress.
Even around 11.30 a.m. only a few supporters of the OPS camp turned up at his residence.
With no movement from the leaders in the OPS camp even after noon, cadre present there started getting worried.
With media reports suggesting trouble in the merger deal, many of them raised slogans supporting Mr. Panneerselvam.
By 12.45 p.m., many of those who had gone to the party office started turning up at his residence. “Well, it seems they (EPS camp) have said they can’t disown Sasikala. How can you have a merger with them when that condition has not been met? Jayalalithaa was our leader and OPS is our leader now. Who is Sasikala?” a distraught woman cadre asked. She had gone to the party office with a pumpkin and some camphor to perform an aarthi.
Quick turn of events
In a sudden and unexpected turn of events, two ministers – S.P. Velumani, P. Thangamani and Rajya Sabha MP Vaithilingam – arrived at Mr. Panneerselvam’s residence.
Over the next 20 minutes, the scene unravelled quite fast, as a deal was reached between the two camps and leaders in the OPS camp left one by one to the party headquarters.
Finally, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami reached the party office around 2.15 p.m. By then, more number of workers had started coming to the party office.
Representatives of the AIADMK (PTA) including V. Maitreyan and C. Ponnaiyan also reached the spot.
Some minutes later, when Mr. Panneerselvam, accompanied by K. P. Munusamy and Natham R. Viswanathan, came in, rapturous reception was given to him. His car was allowed inside the party office, signifying his importance, as normally only the vehicle of Chief Minister or the general secretary is permitted.
Soon the two leaders shook hands signalling their coming together.
Meanwhile, Jaya Plus, considered the mouth-piece of the AIADMK and presently managed by the Sasikala family aired statements made by Ministers against O. Panneerselvam when they were in different factions.