Palaniswami convenes cabinet meeting amid merger talks between AIADMK factions

Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday chaired a cabinet meeting to discuss various issues including to tackle the current drought situation and drinking water crisis in the State.
 
The cabinet meeting assumes significance as it was held amid merger talks attempts between the two AIADMK warring factions.
 
Secretariat sources told Deccan Herald that the meeting, which lasted for about an hour, also discussed about Centre's measures with regard to the constitution of Cauvery River Management Board.
 
The cabinet also discussed about the two bills that were sent for Presidential assent seeking to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET and the convening of the State Assembly to take up the demand for grants for various departments.
 
The last Assembly session was convened for few days in March to table the Budget and was adjourned in view of the by-elections to the R K Nagar assembly seat, which felt vacant after the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.
 
The Opposion parties in Tamil Nadu including DMK and congress have been demanding to convene assembly session since R K Nagar by-polls was cancelled following complaints of bribing voters.