AIADMK merger hits roadblock: OPS camp wants demands fulfilled first

The Edappadi camp claimed that were willing to talk even before we committed to the same.

Differences seem to have cropped up between the two factions of the AIADMK once again with merger talks hitting a roadblock. K P Munusamy of the Panneerselvam camp on Monday alleged that the Edappadi Palanisamy camp is acting at the behest of 'someone' and that is causing confusion. "Our demands remain the same and absolute. Order a Central Investigation Bureau probe into Jayalalithaa's death and oust Sasikala and her family from the party. The other camp is unnecessarily spreading rumours about other demands we have made. We have no demand except these two," clarified Munusamy during a press conference.

The Panneerselvam camp asked why the AIADMK's mouthpiece is carrying statements or reports of Sasikala and TTV Dinakaran if they have been ousted from the party. Munusamy claimed that the Edappadi team was confused on what they want with different leaders making contradictory statements in public.

"The Edappadi camp claimed that were willing to talk even before we committed to the same. Some of their leaders confirm that a committee has been formed while others state that there is no such committee formed to hold talks. The constant change in their stance only shows that they are acting at the behest of someone else. We suspect that they are being controlled by someone else," K P Munusamy told reporters on Monday. Munusamy is part of the committee formed by the Panneerselvam camp to hold merger talks with Edappadi Palanisamy camp.

"Let us make it very clear, we will begin the talks only after both out demands are met. Our demands are crystal clear. There is nothing else we expect from them," Munusamy said. With this, it becomes clear that the merger talks have hit a roadblock with factions suffering from the trust deficit.

We are ready for talks: EPS camp

Reacting to the allegations levelled by Panneerselvam camp, the Edappadi Palanisamy camp has claimed that they are willing to hold talks. Leaders of the EPS camp held Panneerselvam's camp responsible for creating roadblocks in the merger talks. "The matter of ordering a probe in Jayalalithaa's death is with the court. We will accept any decision that the court gives. Panneerselvam could have ordered probe when he was the Chief Minister but he didn't. Why demand for it now?," asked Vaithalingam.

He also reiterated that merger is what their team wanted and maintained that they had extended invite for talks to the Panneerselvam team. "Preconditions are a stumbling block for merger talks. We will order probe if the court directs so," he added.

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