After AIADMK deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran removed R.B. Udhayakumar and Rajan Chellappa from their party posts on Wednesday, leaders of the erstwhile OPS camp said since the two factions of the party had merged, it did not matter.
The unified AIADMK is expected to decide on a date for holding a general council meeting to remove V.K. Sasikala from the post of interim general secretary of the party through a resolution.
Here are the udpates:
Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami should call and talk with all AIADMK MLAs, says party MLA Thoppu N.D. Venkatachalam
The Chief Minister can also call on and talk with TTV Dhinakaran, says Mr. Venkatachalam, at a press meet on Thursday.
MLAs supporting TTV Dhinakaran at the Windflower Resort and Spa in Puducherry on Thursday. | Photo Credit: T. Singaravelou
Pro-Dhinakaran MLA dares CM, Panneerselvam
On the third day of their stay in Windflower Resort and Spa in Chinna Veerampattinam in Puducherry on Thursday, the AIADMK MLAs owing allegiance to Mr. Dhinakaran took a morning stroll and played seesaw.
Speaking to the media, AIADMK MLA Thanga Tamilselvan challenged Mr. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam to prove their majority. "Let them call for a general body meeting of the party and prove the majority. Let them call for a meeting. We will know on whose side the majority is," he said.
Mr. Tamilselvan lamented that the supporters of Mr. Dhinakaran are being shown in bad light by the opposite camp. "We have come here to show our strength and solidarity to Mr. Dhinakaran. We have submitted a memorandum to the Governor requesting the removal of Palaniswami as Chief Minister," he said.
Mr. Tamilselvan said their only demand is that Edappadi Palanisamy should be removed from the post of Chief Minister. By accepting the Deputy Chief Minister's post with multiple portfolio, Mr. Panneerselvam seems to be power hungry, he alleged.
Mr. Tamilselvan’s challenge to the government comes days after the remarks by senior party leader and Rajya Sabha member R. Vaithilingam that steps would be taken to remove Sasikala fom the party by convening a general council meeting.
(With inputs from S. Senthalir)