Daijiworld Media Network – Erode

Erode, Sep 5: Senior AIADMK leader and legislator KA Sengottaiyan on Friday appealed to party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) to bring back all those who had left the party and face the Assembly elections as a united force.

The Gobichettipalayam MLA said it was ousted interim general secretary VK Sasikala who had earlier endorsed Palaniswami as Chief Ministerial candidate. “If Palaniswami fails to initiate steps for unity in 10 days, we will unite all like-minded people and strengthen the party,” Sengottaiyan told reporters.

Calling for reconciliation on the principle of “marappom, mannippon” (forget and forgive), Sengottaiyan’s remarks did not go down well with the EPS camp. A senior AIADMK leader maintained that those expelled would “never be accommodated” and accused Sengottaiyan of attempting to create confusion.

Though Sengottaiyan cited names of senior leaders like SP Velumani, P Thangamani and CV Shanmugam as being unanimous with him, party insiders insisted they stood firmly with Palaniswami.

Reacting to the development, expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam praised Sengottaiyan’s “open talk,” while VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said it would have been better had Sengottaiyan specified who should be taken back. BJP state president Nainar Nagenthiran welcomed the idea of merger, stating, “We can send the DMK regime packing home only when we come together.”

Sengottaiyan, a nine-time MLA and former minister, addressed EPS as general secretary but avoided naming him directly. “I am ready to sacrifice everything for the merger and development of the party,” he declared at the Gobichettipalayam AIADMK office amidst a large gathering of cadres.