Chennai: Reconciliation moves are on in AIADMK after those who revolted against party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami were left hanging with chief minister C Joseph Vijay filling the last two slots in his cabinet with VCK and IUML members.Sources said the two sides have made their respective demands for a conciliation through “negotiation teams” comprising well-wishers of the party. The EPS group wants C Ve Shanmugam faction to withdraw its reported representation to ECI. Shanmugam and S P Velumani, on their part, want EPS to reinstate the functionaries who were removed from party posts.The rebel camp had moved ECI under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, which related to the powers of the commission in relation to splinter groups or rival sections of a recognized political party. “This plea can be withdrawn in the event of both groups coming together,” said a source in the rebel camp.“There was no prayer to freeze the symbol.”On Friday, shortly after VCK legislator Vanni Arasu and IUML legislator A M Shahjahan were inducted into the cabinet, taking the total number of ministers to 35, Velumani said there was no split within the AIADMK and appealed to EPS to discuss and deliberate on the party’s election performance.Velumani said AIADMK MLAs had “no interest in cabinet berths” in the TVK-led govt. This was officially recorded in the assembly when they extended support to TVK govt during the vote of confidence, a fact that the ruling party has also clarified, he added. He then slammed “a sustained misinformation campaign” by sections of mainstream and social media that a faction led by Shanmugam attempted to join the cabinet.Multiple sources, however, confirmed that the Shanmugam-Velumani faction had sought legal opinion about joining the govt and was given the nod as they have more legislators than the EPS-led camp. However, TVK did not oblige.With no option left, the AIADMK rebels intensified talks with leaders in the EPS camp. “EPS is willing to take them back, but he is not keen on revoking his order of stripping the district secretaries and other party postings of the rebel MLAs,” said a source privy to the developments. EPS has also given the green signal to convene a high-level committee meeting to iron out differences and discuss internal issues.Velumani and others in the rebel camp expressed willingness to move forward, but insist EPS restore their party postings. “Shanmugam still wants the rebel team to demand a general council meeting and a change in leadership. But others are not willing to push for a general council or replace EPS as general secretary,” said another source.A senior AIADMK leader and former minister from the western region, who is part of the rebel MLA camp, confirmed the shift in the rebels stand. He, however, refused to divulge further details. “I will come to know about the latest developments only after talking to them tomorrow (Saturday),” the former minister said.According to EPS associate and former minister Agri S S Krishnamurthy, the issues would be amicably settled in a couple of days given that Palaniswami had invited the dissidents for talks.
