Revolt Brewing Against Sasikala, Tamil Nadu Govt May Fall

1706
AIADMK faction led by Sasikala and the Tamil Nadu-News Time Now

A revolt is brewing in the AIADMK faction led by Sasikala and the Tamil Nadu government led by Palaniswami may fall. It’s advantage OPS again.

AIADMK faction led by Sasikala and the Tamil Nadu-News Time NowA revolt is brewing in the Edappadi Palaniswami Government led by the Sasikala faction of the AIADMK with reports indicating that many ministers are likely to switch loyalty to former chief minister O Paneerselvam.

With the Delhi police filing a case against TTK Dinakaran, nephew of VK Sasikala, and the Enforcement Directorate raids on Health Minister Vijayabhaskar, there is unease in the AIADMK camp of Sasikala.

A worried Dinakaran left for Bengaluru to meet his aunt Sasikala who is currently lodged in the Parapana Agrahara jail.

Sources in Chennai said that the O Paneerselvam camp is planning a bloodless coup by attracting all the ministers to its fold and isolating Sasikala and Dinakaran in the process. The tricky hurdle to be crossed is not allowing a vacuum to be formed in Chennai should the Palaniswami Government fall.

Also Read: Sasikala Nephew TTV Dinakaran Faces Bribe Charge, Booked by Delhi Police

The Paneerselvam camp does not want to force an election at this stage as that will mean giving the Opposition DMK a golden chance. The next Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are a good four years away.

Sources indicated that there is indeed a rebellion in the Dinakaran camp. If ministers and senior leaders are convinced that OPS can form a government minus Sasikala loyalists, a new government is likely to be sworn in in Chennai soon.

Sources also said that talks are on for a merger between the two factions of the AIADMK by chucking out Sasikala, Dinakaran and Sasikala loyalists and emerge as the real AIADMK. The party can then stake claim to the two leaves symbol of the AIADMK.

It is more than a matter of speculation that the BJP government at the Centre favours a government led by OPS.

In a clear indication of a merger, Panneerselvam summoned his key associates for a consultative meeting at his residence in Chennai on Sunday evening.

Veteran leader E Madhusudanan, former minister K Pandiarajan, MP V Maitreyan, former minister KP Munusamy, and former MLA JCD Prabhakar, and former assembly speaker P H Pandian are believed to have taken part in Sunday’s meeting.

Later, senior leaders indicated that there has been a “breakthrough” and possibly more rebellion in the Dinakaran.

The meeting, sources said, was mainly to discuss a plan of action in case those moving to the OPS side lay down any conditions and how to accommodate them.

There are also talks that there would be a major announcement by OPS on Wednesday.

“A few senior ministers and other leaders from Sasikala group are likely to join the Panneerselvam faction in the coming days,” a source said indicating that the Panneerselvam faction is firm that Sasikala’s family members should not be in the party.