CHENNAI: Stressing again that Edappadi K Palaniswami is in total command of both the AIADMK and the Government, Finance Minister D Jayakumar on Wednesday rubbished the challenge thrown at him by TTV Dhinakaran loyalist P Vetrivel, telling him "nobody else matters."
Jayakumar's statement obviously refers to not Vetrivel, the Perambur AIADMK MLA, but his 'boss' Dhinakaran, the nephew of jailed party interim general secretary V K Sasikala, party insiders told Deccan Chronicle.
Palaniswami has been leading the efforts to thwart the resurgence of Dhinakaran by holding meetings with senior ministers and party seniors for the past three days.
On Tuesday, the Chief Minister had met ministers and party office-bearers and resolved to keep the Sasikala family out of the party.
As Dhinakaran left for Bengaluru to meet Sasikala on Wednesday morning, Vetrivel told reporters that Jayakumar might have to lose his ministerial job if he continues to speak against the deputy general secretary. “I am warning Minister (D) Jayakumar that he may lose his job both in the government and in the party if he continues to speak against the top leaders of the AIADMK,” Vetrivel said.
The response from the Chief Minister's camp was on expected lines with Jayakumar rubbishing the threat from Vetrivel. "I am not prepared to answer Vetrivel. Who is he? He came from Congress and he is trying to replicate Congressism here in AIADMK and this will never work," he said.
Jayakumar also recalled his ‘sacrifices’ for the people and maintained that Palaniswami was in command of both the government and the party.
