TTV Dinakaran gives up, calls off meeting of AIADMK office bearers

TTV Dinakaran said that since the court had asked him to appear at 3 PM, he would call for a meeting on another day.

Giving in to the demands of AIADMK MLAs and ministers for his exit, TTV Dinakaran on Wednesday said that he had already distanced himself from the party. On Wednesday morning TTV Dinakaran had tried to play down the revolt and claimed that there was no difference of opinion in the party. Within hours, Dinakaran changed his stance and claimed that he would have quit the party had the ministers asked him to.

"I am not against anybody or the party. I want the party to be united. I distanced myself from the party yesterday as per the wishes of the MLAs. I do not fear anyone including the BJP. All that they can do is imprison me," said Dinakaran while announcing his decision to yield to the ministers' demands.

He added that the meeting that he had called for on Wednesday was not a show of strength. "The court has asked me to appear at 3 PM today and I am compelled to cancel the meeting. I will meet them some other day,' he said. On being asked if he would resign, Dinakaran said that he was appointed by Sasikala Natarajan and would decide after discussing with her. "I am willing to be away from the party and hence I am not actively discharging my duties," he added.

Earlier in the day Dinakaran's tone and tenor was different. Reacting for the first time after being sidelined by his own partymen, TTV Dinakaran downplayed the revolt. Speaking to the media on Wednesday morning, the deputy general secretary of the AIADMK said that he will only do what is best for the party.

"I will only do what is good for the party. Any decision I take will be in the best interest of the party and the government," he said on being asked about his reaction to AIADMK ministers' decision. Dinakaran downplayed the entire revolt against him, reiterating that there was no need to sideline him from the party. "I do not have to prove strength or anything. There is no split. All are our MLAs, our party MLAs," he said when asked how many MLAs supported him.

OneIndia News