No one is rejoining AIADMK: Thanga Tamilselvan

Chennai: Stoutly denying any attempts to rejoin the ruling AIADMK, disqualified MLAs supporting T. T. V. Dhinakaran of AMMK, painted a picture of unity on Tuesday, while lashing out at the ruling party and its leaders, accusing them of spreading canard about differences in the Dhinkaran camp 'that don't exist.'

Thanga Tamilselvan, among the 18 disqualified legislators of the AIADMK who had announced to withdraw his case challenging the TN Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal's decision on disqualifying them, dared the AIADMK to lure at least one of them. "I dare the AIADMK leaders to atleast lure one of the disqualified legislators. Then the rest of us including myself would rejoin the AIADMK," Mr Tamilselvan said.

Speaking to reporters here, he alleged that the AIADMK was attempting to create confusion in the TTV camp and that it had even made a vain bid to lure them with a promise of berth in the ministry. "But we are not for it. If they want let the AIADMK members excluding Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Deputy CM O. Pannerselvam, join our AMMK. We will not merge with the AIADMK," he said and also termed as "motivated rumours" about reports in the media on some of the disqualified MLAs returning to the ruling party.

His decision to withdraw the case in the Madras high court challenging the disqualification is due to his loss of hope of getting justice from the judiciary. "But that does not mean there is a disharmony among the 18 disqualified MLAs," he added.

Earlier in the day, fisheries minister D. Jayakumar had said those who have left the party would join back as it is the "compulsion of time".