AIADMK factions merged, OPS is deputy CM, Sasikala to be removed

Amid the hectic political drama, the two warring AIADMK factions in Tamil Nadu announced the merger on Monday with rebel group leader O Panneerselvam (OPS) will be a part of Edappadi K Palaniswami's cabinet as deputy chief minister, a newly created post.
 
The new look AIADMK also decided to convene general council meeting to formally adopt a resolution for expelling V K Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dinakaran from the party, which was the key demand laid by the OPS faction for the merger.
 
The unification of the both the groups came after a series of marathon deliberations held in both AIADMK "Amma" led by Palaniswami and rebel group headed by OPS during the last few days.
 
Soon after arriving an amicable solution within the two groups, Panneerselvam went to AIADMK headquarters in the city for the first time in six months, where he met Palaniswami and formally merged his faction.
 
Hundreds of party cadres, who had thronged the AIADMK office on the occasion, gave a rousing welcome to Panneerselvam.
 
"It is a historic event. We will all work together in the future to retrieve the party two leaves symbol", Palaniswami said and announced the Panneerselvam will also be
party coordinator.
 
The chief minister also announced that a steering committee, comprising 11 members, would be constituted very soon to guide the party and the government.
 
While addressing the gathering at the party headquarters, Panneerselvam said "we will be united. No one could divide us in the future". He also thanked Palaniswami for taking efforts in uniting the two factions.
 
AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP  R Vaithilingam said immediate steps will be taken for convening general council meeting to expel Sasikala from the party general secretary
post.
 
Soon after making a joint announcement on the merger, both Palaniswami and Panneerselvam, along with their supporters, went to late chief minister J Jayalalithaa's memorial and paid floral their tributes.
 
Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who had already arrived from Mumbai after cancelling his programmes, administered the oath of office to Panneerselvam and K Pandiarajan (Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture portfolio).
 
After the swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan, Panneerselvam and Pandiarajan want the State Secretariat in the evening for formally assuming charge.
 
Soon after the merger, Dhinakaran, who is said to have the support of about ten MLAs, chaired a meeting with supporters to discuss the next course of action. Sources from Dhinakaran said they would move the court against the merger of two AIADMK groups.
 
Meanwhile, the Opposition DMK is planning to move no confidence motion against the government headed by Palaniswami. DMK sources said that senior leaders of the party will be meeting the governor in this regard very soon