Tamil Nadu: VK Sasikala kin closing ranks ahead of TTV Dhinakaran's August revolt'

Chennai: With just a week to go for AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran’s re-launch into party activities, the family of party general secretary V.K. Sasikala appears to be closing ranks.

Sasikala’s younger brother Dhivakaran, who attended her sister-in-law Santhanalakshmi’s funeral, along with Dhinakaran, openly acknowledged the latter’s party position. The two key members of the family were said to be at loggerheads with each other and Dhivakaran was said to be behind the cancellation of Dhinakaran’s meeting at Mannargudi, the native town of Sasikala.

While addressing reporters, Dhivakaran described Dhinakaran as the party’s deputy general secretary, which is in contrast to his earlier position that no one from the family should occupy any party position. He also denied any kind of rift between the two and added that they had always been together.

So far, Dhivakaran was against giving trouble to the Chief Minister and his supporters had affirmed their support to the state government. But, the family seems to have some re-thinking after it seems to be losing relevance in the party and government. If Dhivakaran got behind his niece, the challenge for Palaniswami could be strong and real. Dhinakaran had not revealed his plans after August 5, but he seems to be planning state-wide tour and mobilisation of support for him.

Only a few MLAs and MPs attended the funeral on Friday and most of the ministers including the Chief Minister, besides most of the MLAs and MPs kept away from the function, showing that the family’s support base is shrinking.

However, Dhinakaran said “This is only a funeral and much political significance should not be attached to this. Dhivakaran, who was beside Dhinakaran, said “Most of the party cadre had turned up for the function and are supporting the family. Party is different from MLAs and ministers. AIADMK is like Abhimanyu of Mahabharatha and the party is caught in a chakra viyuga now”.

While Dhinakaran wants to exercise his powers as the party’s deputy general secretary, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and his ministers had not acknowledged the former’s role in the party. After the declaration of ministers that they would keep away Dhinakaran from party activities, he himself declared that he would keep away from AIADMK (Amma) activities.

However, after getting bail in a case filed by Delhi police that he bribed an Election Commission of India official to get back the AIADMK’s ‘two leaves’ symbol, Dhinakaran issued an ultimatum for the party to merge the two factions.

He declared that he had stayed away from party activities only to pave way for the merger of the two factions and announced that he would return to political activity after August 5.