Chennai: Hitting back at the EPS camp that virtually removed him from the party, TTV Dhinakaran on Thursday asserted that he was still in control of the ruling AIADMK and warned of a “surgical strike” against any leader, including Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, if they continue to target him.
Contending that only the Election Commission had the powers to decide on the legality of his appointment as deputy general secretary by his aunt VK Sasikala in February, Dhinakaran tore into the chief minister and his colleagues accusing them of adopting “double standards” while dealing with him.
“I have powers to even act against the Chief Minister if he continues to act against the interest of the party. They are scared since they have something to hide and their fear only compounded when I announced that I would undertake a statewide tour from Monday. The EPS camp is saying something in the Election Commission and exactly opposite outside,” Mr Dhinakaran told reporters in Thanjavur.
“The Chief Minister and his colleagues are indulging in forgery to continue in power. I am under no compulsion to answer to those who indulge in 420 (IPC section for forgery) activities. Only the Election Co-mmission can decide about my appointment (as deputy general secretary),” he added and asserted that those who commit mistakes will correct it or they will be “reformed”.
Dhinakaran put up a brave face despite the number of MLAs supporting him continuing to dwindle with only P Vetrivel and Thanga Tamilselvan being the prominent faces that are speaking in his favour. Sources in the EPS camp said the number of MLAs supporting Dhinakaran has come down to just 10 and that a majority of them who expressed support to him in June have returned to their factions.
Reminding once again that it was the Sasikala family, against whom the party is up in arms now, that installed the Edappadi Palaniswami Government after O.Panneerselvam revolted in February, Dhinakaran said those in power should think at least once on what could have happened if Sasikala did not rally party MLAs around her.
“They (EPS camp) are adopting double standards and it is evident from the fact that Dindigul C Sreenivasan is still drawing salary from the party as Treasurer, a post that was given to him by Sasikala. Why should he continue to draw salary if he thinks the appointment of Sasikala itself is illegal”, Dhinakaran asked.
Dhinakaran wondered how the Palaniswami camp could comment against Sasikala when they themselves had furnished an affidavit to the EC, endorsing her appointment as party chief. He was also caught on the wrong side when he accused the EPS camp of “illegally using the letterhead” of AIADMK, which has been frozen by the Election Commission. In its order, the EC had clearly said the name of AIADMK should not be used only for the purpose of RK Nagar by-election.
