In mounting trouble for the Sasikala camp, the crime branch of the Delhi police has filed an FIR against AIADMK Deputy General Secy TTV Dhinakaran for attempting to bribe officials of the Election Commission of India in order to get the ‘two-leaves’ symbol allotted to his camp.
Delhi police PRO Madhur Verma has confirmed to The News Minute that an FIR has been filed against Dhinakaran and the Delhi police have said they will be issuing summons to Dhinakaran for questioning soon.
Further, following speculation that AIADMK deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran is under pressure to drop Vijayabaskar after the I-T raids, it is being said now that a few senior ministers and other leaders from Sasikala camp are likely to cross over to the Panneerselvam camp, reported The Times of India.
On Sunday, there was a consultative meeting among the key associates of the O Panneerselvam camp and sources in the camp have told TOI that there has been a “breakthrough” and more rebellion in the TTV Dhinkaran camp.
Veteran leader E Madhusudanan, former minister K Pandiarajan, MP V Maitreyan, former minister KP Munusamy, and former MLA JCD Prabhakar, and former assembly speaker P H Pandian were reportedly part of the meeting.
However, Panneerselvam did not confirm a merger between the warring AIADMK factions.
But Panneerselvam loyalists are hopeful of more crossovers after the IT raids and divisions in the Sasikala camp.
Sources told TOI that the meeting was to discuss strategy and there a big announcement is expected on Wednesday.
A week after the Income Tax department raided properties belonging to Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, there was pressure mounting on the government to sack him.
A meeting of senior ministers was held at Dhinakaran’s residence in Chennai on Friday, where the issue of a cabinet reshuffle was discussed.
Sources had told TNM earlier that Palaniswami and his associates were keen to drop the Health Minister.
Some reports in Tamil media also suggested that Dhinakaran was asked to step down as Deputy General Secretary.