Merger chances dim as OPS, EPS factions trade corruption charges
An angry Shanmugam said, Panneerselvam do not have the locus standi to speak about corruption .
CHENNAI: The chances of merger of the two AIADMK factions came down further as AIADMK (PTA) leader O. Panneerselvam on Thursday charged the AIADMK (Amma) government with running a corrupt administration.
His statement met with strong response from law minister C.V. Shanmugam who lashed out at Panneerselvam and charged him with introducing sand baron Sekhar Reddy into TN. An angry Shanmugam said, “Panneerselvam do not have the locus standi to speak about corruption”.
Earlier, Panneerselvam, speaking to reporters at Coimbatore airport, said his party had the people’s support and the party is also him. When asked about AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran’s visit to the party headquarters, Panneerselvam said “We are keenly observing the situation. We will convey our views depending on what happens”.
He reiterated that there are no chances for the merger of the two factions since merging his party with the ruling AIADMK (Amma) would be like supporting corruption and betraying the people.
He also said the I-T department should have raided Koovathur resort similar to those in the raids in Bengaluru resort where Congress MLAs from Gujarate are staying.
TTV group offered me Rs 5 crore to switch sides: Shanmuganathan
Former state minister and sitting MLA from Srivaikundam in the O. Panneerselvam faction of AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma), S.P. Shanmuganathan said that the T T V Dhinakaran group offered him '5 crore to switch sides.
One of the staunch supporters of O. Panneerselvam since he became chief minister for the third time immediately after the demise of J. Jayalalithaa, Shanmuganathan, the former state minister from Srivaikundam constituency in Thoothukudi district, disclosed in a public meeting of the Anna Trade union of the TNSTC here on Thursday that Dhinakaran and chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami supporters of the AIADMK (Amma) faction have been trying to lure MLAs from the Panneeselvam led faction of the party.
Rengarajan, founding president of TTV Dhinakaran Peravai, who too was present at Thoothukudi on Thursday evening, however said that Shanmuganthan made the statement out of frustration as their political calculation of grabbing power by going behind Panneerselvam had utterly failed.