The differences over the merger of two AIADMK factions again came to fore on Sunday with Tamil Nadu Forest Minister Dindigul C Srinivasan accusing the O Pannerselvam camp of not coming forward for the unity talks.
“Though the ruling party (AIADMK Amma) has expressed willingness for coming together of the party, the Paneerselvam camp is not ready for talks,” he told reporters here.
He recalled that Chief Minister K Palaniswami had recently asked the OPS led Puratchi Thalaivi Amma faction to reunite with the parent party in the interest of serving the people.
A CBI probe into former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s “mysterious death” is among the conditions laid down by the Panneerselvam-led AIADMK faction for merger talks to commence with the rival Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami-led group.
The merger talks have failed to make any headway with the OPS faction remaining firm on their demands.
Their other demand is explusion of jailed AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, her nephew and deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran and members of their family from the party.