Chennai: The Edappadi K. Palaniswami faction of the AIADMK looks set to sack VK Sasikala as general secretary of the party. The Chief Minister has summoned all senior ministers and office-bearers on Monday for discussions, which may clear the decks for the merger of the two factions after a call is made on the sacking of Sasikala.
At the meeting, the office-bearers will in all probability pass a resolution announcing Sasikala’s sacking from the post of General Secretary and her expulsion from the AIADMK, sources told Deccan Chronicle.
If the announcement of Sasikala’s sacking from the party is indeed made on Monday, the merger would take place almost immediately since it is a major demand of former chief minister O Panneerselvam. His other major demand for instituting an inquiry into J.Jayalalithaa’s death was met by Palaniswami last Thursday last, the sources pointed out.
Party sources also said once the resolution is passed at the meeting of office-bearers on Monday morning, the leaders of the two factions would either meet at the AIADMK headquarters on the Avvai Shanmugam Salai or at the Jayalalithaa Memorial on the Marina Beach.
“The demand for sacking of Sasikala from the post of General Secretary has been accepted by the Chief Minister's camp. The EPS camp overcame differences within and accepted the demand after much deliberation,” a senior leader told DC.
The merger, which was to happen on Friday, did not take place over differences within the OPS camp on the Sasikala question. Leaders like V. Maitreyan, KP Munusamy and Manoj Pandian had told Panneerselvam that he should not agree for a merger unless Sasikala is removed from her post and the party.
The meeting on Monday morning is also expected to discuss Sasikala's expulsion from the party. Sasikala, a close aide of late Jayalalithaa, was appointed as General Secretary of the AIADMK by the General Council on December 29, 2016. However, Panneerselvam challenged the decision in the Election Commission in February this year following his rebellion against Sasikala.
As the merger appears imminent, leaders from both factions expressed hope that the unification will happen at the earliest. While Panneerselvam said the talks have moved a step forward and a good decision would be reached shortly, Finance Minister D Jayakumar and School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan from the EPS camp said the ‘good decision’ to the liking of the cadres and people would be announced soon.
According to the compromise arrived at between the two factions, Palaniswami would continue to head the AIADMK Government with Panneerselvam joining the administration as his deputy. In the party, Panneerselvam would head the seven-member Governing Council with Palaniswami serving as his deputy.
