AIADMK merger talks going on smoothly, positive decision by Monday, says O Panneerselvam

Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O Panneerselvam on Saturday said that talks of the merger of AIADMK’s two factions have not hit any roadblock and a positive decision will come out by Monday.

“The talks on merger are going on smoothly and in one or two days a concrete decision will be known,” Panneerselvam said.

He also quashed earlier reports of some differences within his faction and said, “There are no differences within the faction. We will carry forward on the path of MGR & Amma (Jayalalithaa).”

The talks on merger are going on smoothly and in one or two days a concrete decision will be known: O Panneerselvam on #AIADMKMerger pic.twitter.com/PwwcD2d986

— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2017

Earlier on Friday, there were reports coming in that both Panneerselvam and Palaniswami factions of AIADMK can merge after the later accepted former’s main condition of a judicial probe into Jayalalithaa’s death.

On the expectation of a merger announcement at the Jayalalithaa mausoleum at Marina Beach late in the evening, security was beefed up there, with several MLAs converging.

However, the merger could not happen on Friday and it was said that “some ticklish issues” have delayed the process. It soon became apparent that there were hurdles to the merger talks, with leaders of both factions starting to leave the venue.

According to some reports, another key demand of VK Sasikala's ouster from the party is yet to be announced and Chief Minister Edapaddi Palanisami could make an announcement during his address on MGR centenary celebrations at Thiruvarur on Saturday evening. 

After Jayalalithaa’s death, her party AIADMK was split into two factions, one led by former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and the other by Chief Minister Planiswami.