OPS bats for unity amid notes of discord

Amid signs of discord in the ruling AIADMK, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Sunday stressed on unity in the party and exhorted workers to ensure that Amma's (Jayalalithaa's) rule continues its stride.

In a series of tweets, Panneerselvam praised Chief Minister K Palaniswami saying he was providing good governance based on the path shown by the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

He, however, did not comment on the simmering discontent that came to the fore last week after his loyalist and Rajya Sabha MP V Maitreyan hinted at differences among the leaders of the two factions which merged earlier this year.

Besides this, Panneerselvam's supporters have said they were not invited to a key party function in Madurai on Saturday attended by Palaniswami.

Panneerselvam, who was conspicuous by his absence at the event held in Madurai, had later batted for unity in the party while taking part in another function along with Palaniswami.

The second function was held at Ramanathapuram, about 115 km from Madurai.

In his tweets, Panneerselvam on Sunday reiterated that it was due to unity among party workers that the Election Commission alloted the 'two-leaves' symbol to them.

"With the same unity and support of Tamil people, we will face the next month's bypoll in R K Nagar and succeed. We will achieve great victories in all polls, we are going to dedicate the victories to our beloved Amma," he said.