While Congress’ revival in the Hindi heartland gives immense joy to the Opposition DMK in Tamil Nadu, which cemented its relationship with the party, the ruling AIADMK’s revival in the state seems to be a distant dream with the rebel faction putting forward new conditions that dent the possibility of an AIADMK merger.
In an interview to a national news paper, the sidelined leader and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhakam president TTV Dinakran categorically said a merger could be possible only without 12 of the ruling faction leaders, including Edappadi K Palaniswamy and O Panneerselvam.
Though Dinakaran not reveal the names of all these 12 leaders, it is an open secret that all are part of the EPS government. If Dinakaran categorically specified that working with EPS and OPS is not possible, it is almost a truth that a merger or revival of AIADMK in Tamil Nadu is a closed chapter for the time being.
If that is not enough the possibility of a smooth alliance with BJP in the state during the upcoming Lok Sabha election also diminished with AIADMK minority wing secretary and Ramanathapuram MP A Anwhar Rajhaa pointing out that with the setback in the Hindi heart land, now no party would like to go along with the BJP in the Lok Sabha election.
Rajhaa said the verdict was people’s back lash against BJP’s wrong policies. His comment that the anti-BJP political forces are likely to get benefitted at the time of Lok Sabha elections holds significant importance in the party which already is in a shambles.
The left hand of EPS and party trouble-shooter D Jayakumar, fisheries minister in the AIADMK government, also said no conclusion could be arrived at merely on the basis of the results of the Assembly elections.
He was briefing media after a meeting of AIADMK district secretaries.
Meanwhile, political observers feel an immediate merger of the AIADMK factions is not a possibility. K A Johny, political commentator, said at least before the Lok Sabha election there would not be a merger of rival factions of the AIADMK.
“TTV Dinakaran is not a leader who could be easily cow down with political pressure from Central leadership of the BJP. And the BJP also, for the time being, would not like to have a working relation with a leader like Divakaran,” Johny told The Statesman.