TN Ministers meet amid talk of merger

Chennai: Several senior Tamil Nadu Ministers Monday night went into a huddle here amid reports about coming together of rival AIADMK factions led by TTV Dhinakaran and O Panneerselvam.

They later welcomed rebel leader Panneerselvam's offer for talks on merger and decided to work out the modalities for taking forward the proposal.

Emerging from the more than an hour-and-half-long meeting held at the residence of Electricity Minister K Thangamani late tonight, Finance Minister D Jayakumar said modalities were being worked out to pave the way for the merger of factions led by Dhinakaran and Panneerselvam.

Panneerselvam had said the party factions should work in unison and it is welcome, he said, adding senior party leader and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai too hailed it.

"Given that opinion (voiced by OPS), modalities to strengthen the party and to run it with unity were discussed," he said briefing reporters about the deliberations at the meeting which was attended by most of the ministers of E K Palaniswami government.

Jayakumar said all the Ministers and legislators welcomed the view of Panneerselvam.

"All the 123 MLAs and all Ministers are of the same view.

The rule of Amma (Jayalalithaa) should continue and two-leaves symbol (of AIADMK) should be retrieved," he said.

Law Minister C V Shanmugam said since party's Deputy Chief Dhinakaran was away in Bengaluru, the matter will be discussed with him after he returns to the city and a decision would be taken.

On speculations about Sasikala resigning from her post, Shanmugam said it was a "lie". Jayakumar said, "There is no such thing.