Will resume party work from August 5: TTV Dhinakaran

Chennai: Sidelined AIADMK deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Sunday asserted that he would get into “active politics mode” from August 5 from when he will start preparations for unifying all factions of the party to brace up for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking to reporters in Thanjavur, the party leader, who has not been attending party work ever since he was released from Tihar jail after he was jailed for attempting to bribe Election Commission officials, also made it clear that there was “no division” within the Sasikala family and that “all are united.”

The former Periyakulam MP and nephew of AIADMK interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala had on June 5 announced that he would not interfere in the party affairs for two months. As the deadline set by him expires on August 4, Mr Dhinakaran made it clear that he would resume duties as deputy general secretary on August 5.

“I will get into active politics from August 5 and work towards unifying the factions of the AIADMK and prepare the party for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The general secretary (Sasikala) has instructed me to prepare the AIADMK for the Parliamentary elections and I would go by my boss,” Dhinakaran said.

His statement comes two days after his uncle and Sasikala’s brother Dhivakaran, who was said to be against Dhinakaran’s elevation, came out in support of him. 

So far, Dhivakaran was against giving trouble to the Chief Minister and his supporters had affirmed their support to the state government. But, the family seems to have done some rethinking after it seems to be losing relevance in the party and government. With the family closing ranks with Dhinakaran, his statement assumes significance as the Edappadi K. Palaniswami faction maintaining that it has no links with any of the family members of Sasikala.

Contending that his main goal was to ensure that the welfare work of the government installed by the late J. Jayalalithaa is continued, Dhinakaran said ministers who are against him would also come around “after understanding my intentions. My goal is to unify the AIADMK,” the deputy general secretary said.