AIADMK (Amma) Deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran seems all set to take the plunge back into 'active politics' in the state of Tamil Nadu, close to two months after he was released from Delhi’s Tihar jail. On Sunday, he told the media in Thanjavur that he will be preparing to unite the factions of the party and to gear up for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from August 5.
On June 5, Dhinakaran had reportedly announced that he will not be interfering in party affairs for two months. This was after the AIADMK (PTA) faction led by former Chief Minister and rebel O Panneerselvam demanded that and AIADMK (Amma) General Secretary VK Sasikala stay away from the party affairs in order for merger talks to continue.
However, with the August 5 deadline looming close, there has been no progress as far as the merger of both AIADMK factions is concerned.
“I will get into active politics from August 5 and work towards unifying the factions of the AIADMK and prepare the party for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The general secretary (Sasikala) has instructed me to prepare the AIADMK for the Parliamentary elections and I would go by my boss,” Dhinakaran told the media at a joint press conference addressed by him and Sasikala's brother TTV Dhivakaran.
According to reports, Dhinkaran said that his main goal was to work towards the welfare of the government that was installed by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. He claimed that even ministers who were against him would come around after understanding that his only intention was to unify the AIADMK.
His statement comes two days after his uncle Dhivakaran, who was allegedly against Dhinakaran’s elevation, came out in support of him.
Prior to his arrest in April in the EC bribery case, TTV Dhinakaran had told media persons that he would respect the sentiments of party leaders and stay away from the party affairs. However, soon after he was released on bail in June, Dhinakaran said he would give Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami two months for the merger of the two factions. Speaking to reporters after visiting Sasikala at the Bengaluru jail, he said on June 5, “They are just talking and talking, nothing has happened in past 45 days. I came and told this to our General Secretary (Sasikala). She told that they will be given two months of time. Let them complete the merger. We will give them time, after that we will take action as per the instruction given by our General Secretary.”