‘Palaniswami-faction should remove Sasikala clan from AIADMK’

Chennai, Aug 10 (IANS) The AIADMK faction led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami should remove jailed General Secretary V.K. Sasikala and her family members from the party before it merges with the Panneerselvam-led faction, a senior leader said on Thursday.

The leader from former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam's camp told IANS on condition of anonymity, that Sasikala's removal and setting up of a judicial enquiry into AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa's death are "our fundamental demands for unification".

"If these two basic demands are not met with before the unification, then it will be a matter of time for us to be treated like 'curry leaves' (use and throw) in the ruling party," he said.

Referring to reports of the imminent merger of the two factions, the AIADMK leader said: "First the ruling faction under Palaniswami should call a meeting of the party's general council to dismiss Sasikala/Dinakaran family from the party."

The third faction in AIADMK owes allegiance to Sasikala and her nephew Deputy General Secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran, who was appointed before she went to prison in Bengaluru.

The leader said that the Palaniswami faction will be meeting to take a final call on the latest merger proposals.

While the Palaniswami camp has said that Dinakaran would be kept away from the affairs of the party, it has been silent on Sasikala's position.

Both Palaniswami and Panneerselvam will be travelling to Delhi later on Thursday evening.

Following Jayalalithaa's death in December 2016, the AIADMK had split into different factions.

One faction is led by Panneerselvam, who rebelled against the leadership of Sasikala. The other two factions are led by Palaniswami and Sasikala.