In a blatant sign of unwillingness to include the AIADMK (Amma) Deputy General Secretary in the party's activities, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswani has kept TTV Dhinakaran out of the Iftar party to be organised on Wednesday. This is also being seen as an effort by EPS to assert his position in the party and government, reports Times of India.
According to the report, the invite put out by the CM, says Palaniswami is organising the party, in his capacity as the AIADMK headquarters secretary. He is reportedly not ready to invite TTV as it may incur the wrath of the BJP and of AIADMK workers. But the 25 MLAs who visited TTV as a sign of support are disgruntled and will be meeting Edappadi on Monday to 'mount pressure' on him.
“The Chief Minister has not discussed with the ministers the demands of these MLAs. The Iftar party was decided by us a week ago. We reiterate our stand to keep the family away for the betterment of the government and the party," a senior minister told ToI. The MLAs supporting TTV include former ministers P Palaniappan, N D Venkatachalam and V Senthil Balaji.
But in the assembly, the treasury benches are working hard to ensure that EPS is showered with praises. His name is often raised and his 'achievements' frequently announced. This, in an effort to ensure that the current dispensation completes its full term.
The TTV camp is however upset by the move to project EPS as the party chief as well. "We maintain patience since they (EPS faction) are in power. Our objective is to run the party and strengthen it. They have got it wrong," said Andipatti MLA and TTV supporter Thanga Tamilselvan to ToI.