Panneerselvam meets PM Narendra Modi, discusses AIADMK merger possibility

NEW DELHI: Former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital amid reports of the two warring factions of AIADMK moving close to a merger.

Government insiders said while OPS raised the issue relating to NEET, the two leaders also spoke about the merger of AIADMK factions in the meeting which lasted for 30 minutes. Panneerselvam, who met the PM on Monday morning, refused to divulge any details. “OPS has been asked to try and get the merger done as soon as possible,” a source close to OPS said.

OPS has the support of at least 10 lawmakers and a few parliamentarians. OPS had earlier said he would soon take a decision that would benefit the state. Attempts are on to unify thetwoAIADMKfactions, theotheris led by chief minister E Palaniswami who had met PM Modi last week.


Palaniswami, OPS and AIADMK deputy general secretary TTK Dinakaran are the three power centres in the party that started disintegrating after the death of J Jayalalithaa in December last year.

Dinakaran held his first political rally near Madurai on Monday that was keenly watched by both factions. If he failed to get at least 10 MLAs on stage with him, it could be the end of road for Sasikala’s political future and her family, official sources said. BJP president Amit Shah is expected to visit the state next week.