CHENNAI: In the strongest attack on T. T.V. Dhinakaran, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday hit back for his “forgery and 420” remark against him and colleagues, saying the “tag is appropriate for the AIADMK leader, who has been virtually expelled from the party.” A day after passing a resolution against the appointment of Dhinakaran as deputy general secretary and distancing V. K. Sasikala from the party, Palaniswami met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and closeted with him for nearly 30 minutes during which the merger talks between his camp and faction led by O. Panneerselvam figured prominently.
“The 420 tag fits him appropriate,” Palaniswami said with his trademark smile, when asked to comment about Dhinakaran’s statement on Thursday that the Chief Minister and his colleagues’ action of terming his appointment illegal as “forgery” and the one that would attract IPC Section 420.
“We all saw what he went through for the past three months. So if we see where does it (the 420 tag) appropriate, I think it will fit him,” the Chief Minister said, in an obvious reference to the case against Dhinakaran for allegedly attempting to bribe Election Commission officials to get a favourable verdict for his faction in the “Two Leaves” symbol case.
However, the Chief Minister refused to take more questions on the political situation in the state. On the possible merger of the two factions, he said no talks have been launched so far between the two sides, but exuded confidence that the unification would happen soon. The merger, brokered at the insistence of Modi, is expected to take shape formally after Palaniswami and Panneerselvam return from New Delhi on Saturday.
