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AIADMK factions talk reconciliation, call for merger

by IBNS 18 Apr 2017, 08:44 am

Chennai, Apr 18 (IBNS) The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, which witnessed a massive rift and power struggle after the death of Jayalalithaa and the takeover of the party reins by her close companion Sasikala, is talking reconciliation again, said media reports.

According to media reports, the two rival groups of the AIADMK are talking to patch up which implies that Sasikala, who is now lodged in a Bengaluru jail on corruption cases after a Supreme Court ruling, has been sidelined. 
 
Removing late Jayalalithaa's confidant O Panneerselvam from the post of Chief Minister, Sasikala earlier installed Edappadi K. Palaniswami as the CM.
 
 Her nephew TTV Dinakaran also was made the deputy leader of the party.
 
However, reports said several AIADMK lawmakers from Sasikala's group rebelled against Dinakaran on the issue of corruption charges against him.
 
According to an NDTV report, a group of 10 ministers of the ruling bloc has been assigned to hold talks with the OPS faction for a merger. 
 
"We are brothers from the same family," said a minister, Sellur Raju, who is part of the negotiating team, reported the channel.
 
At the age of 68, J Jayalalithaa passed away at a hospital in Chennai in December last year, triggering a crisis in the AIADMK.