The merger of the two warring factions of AIADMK puts an end to the six-month long political uncertainty, but throws up new challenges
TS Venkatesan
Over six-month long dilly dallying drama of merger has come to an end in Tamil Nadu. The warring two factions, AIADMK (Amma) headed by former CM O Paneerselvam (OPS) and the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma-PTA) headed by the incumbent CM Edapadi K Palanisamy (EPS) inked their merger pact ending the high voltage drama after laying condition after conditions, umpteen number of parleys and flying to Delhi with request to PM to mediate. Now they have to face an imminent threat from another faction, of Sasikala-Dinakaran led Mannargudi clan. With 19 MLAs of Dinakaran faction withdrew their support to CM Edapadi K Palanisamy government, sword of Damocles hanging over its head promising sleepless nights in store for them.
Close on the heels of the demise of Jayalalithaa in December last, the four- decade-old AIADMK had gone through a sea of changes, from accepting her longtime confidante as its general secretary to a split. The government too saw three Chief Ministers within a span of a year. There were rival factions, MLAs hidden away, floor tests, bribery allegations, petitioning volumes of papers to get partie’s two leave symbol and more. An hour later, OPS was sworn-in as Deputy Chief Minister. Panneerselvam got the portfolios of Finance and Housing, while his supporter, K Pandiarajan got Tamil official language, culture and archaeology. EPS and OPS walked into the packed party headquarters and vowed to work together and strengthen the party. Panneerselvam said “We are children of Amma (Jayalalithaa); no one can separate us. We have merged to realise the wishes of the cadres and the public.” Palaniswami said, “No other party in the country had united after a split. Let us take a pledge to bring glory to the government and the party floated by Puratchi Thalaivar and nurtured by Puratchi Thalaivi Amma.“
In the post merger era, EPS will be its joint coordinator and former Ministers K P Munusamy (OPS camp) and R Vaithilingam (EPS camp) deputy coordinators. Palaniswami hinted at appointing 11 members to the committee. TT V Dinakaran camp called EPS and OPS traitors and sought an appointment with the Governor on August 22.
On the face of it, Edappadi K Palaniswami won hands down in the merger of the two AIADMK factions. He continues as CM and has also got his senior colleague OPS-three-time CM -as his deputy. The two leaders shared the dais in Ariyalur on August 23 for the MGR centenary celebrations.
Commenting on the merger, a senior journalist said, “In effect, OPS is the de-facto chief of the party and it would be only a matter of time that he gets elected as general secretary. He is so keen on the party leadership because he is not sure about the future of the government. According to the party by-laws, there is no provision for a steering committee, especially when there is no general secretary, elected by the cadres. When OPS has got the upper hand in the party, EPS is saddled with challenges in the government. The local body polls which are due long since, may be held anytime. That would be a litmus test. RK Nagar by poll which was cancelled due to cash for vote controversy, is also due any time.” MLAs loyal to party leader VK Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran met the Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on August 22 and said they had lost confidence in Chief Minister EK Palaniswami, prompting the opposition DMK to demand a trust vote.
“We are going to initiate efforts to bring in a new Chief Minister with the help of our supporting MLAs,” Dinakaran”s supporter and Andipatti MLA Thanga Tamil Selvan said. The MLAs backing Dinakaran later proceeded to a resort in the neighbouring Puducherry. Dinakaran group MLAs said the government has been reduced to a minority. Of the 136 seats the AIADMK had won, the RK Nagar seat is vacant and the Assembly Speaker can cast his vote only in the case of a tie. This means the government has the support of only 115 MLAs, against the working majority of 117 in the 235-member House (including a nominated member who cannot vote). Thanga Tamilselvan said, “We want a new confidence motion and Palaniswami replaced. He was
handpicked by Chinnamma (VK Sasikala) and now he has betrayed us. What was the need for EPS to bring back OPS who voted against our government? It is only due to Chinnamma the government survived the trust vote. EPS is a betrayer. We want KA Sengottaiyan as Chief Minister to save the AIADMK government.
Dhivakaran, belonging to Sasikala’s group, said that the AIADMK government might not last the rest of its term. “Till yesterday (August 20) I assured the government would
continue. But today (August 21) I cannot say the same,” he said in an interview to a private television channel.
Dinakaran group is playing safe to ensure its does not want to rub on the wrong side of the rank and file of the party. But upping its ante against EPS and his removal has opened up channels of communication with DMK’s M K Stalin and other disgruntled MLAs in EPS, OPS groups to muster numbers. Dinakaran, it is alleged, is working on a track-two diplomacy to get a change of guard within the AIADMK government. “SSS – viz Sonia, Sasikala, Stalin would join together to take challenge Modi’ and BJP’s clandestine efforts to capture power through back door entry,” said a Dinakaran faction leader. Former Minister S Semmalai of the OPS camp said, “No MLA wants to see the government fall and everyone wants to complete the full term.” MLAs are well aware of the consequences of pulling down the EPS regime.
The leader of the Opposition in the Assembly M K Stalin, in a letter to Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, urged to convene an Assembly session at the earliest and ask the government to prove its majority on the floor of the House. The Congress also shot an identical letter to the Governor. Stalin and Congress, citing the “SR Bommai case’, asked Rao to uphold the constitutional norms set by the Supreme Court. As per the TN Assembly rules, 24 MLAs, which is about 10 percent of the total strength of the House, must move no confidence motion against the CM.
According to the AIADMK by-law, the general secretary has to be elected by the cadres. OPS is the most popular AIADMK leader among the cadres now.The AIADMK factions will have to formally inform the Election Commission about their merger. It will facilitate withdrawing their petitions filed with the EC staking claim to the two leaves symbol.
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