OPS is all set to be the CM of Tamilnadu.The two factions of the AIADMK have reportedly finalised the merger deal, with O Panneerselvam returning as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. The current Chief Minister EK Palaniswami will replace VK Sasikala as party’s general secretary.
The ruling AIADMK faction sealed the deal due to “vulnerable state of the government”. The merger is likely to be announced on Monday.
“The merger deal has been sealed and formal talks will begin now between the senior leaders of both factions to finalise and announce the decision. Palaniswami will step down for Panneerselvam, and become the party chief. Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, whose properties were raided by Income Tax officials, may be dropped from the cabinet.
Former minister and MLA Senthil Balaji may be inducted along with one or two more faces from southern Tamil Nadu,” a senior AIADMK leader told the newspaper.
Meanwhile, other leaders in the ruling faction have started to distance themselves from Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dinakaran.
The talks for the merger of the two factions began after Dhinakaran was booked for allegedly offering bribe to an Election Commission official in an attempt to get the party’s poll symbol of ‘two leaves’ in a by-election to the R K Nagar Assembly seat in Tamil Nadu.
Both the factions of the AIADMK had on Friday formed committees to discuss the merger.
