Chennai sources have stated that after months of hard negotiations and several false starts, Tamilnadu's ruling AIADMK party today finally announced a merger with Chief Minister E Palaniswami or EPS, and his rival O Panneerselvam or OPS shaking on it and also visiting together the beach side memorial of J Jayalalitha, where OPS started his rebellion. The AIADMK has agreed to expel VK Sasikala, the jailed party chief.
Currently the merged team has decided to ask the Election Commission for its "two leaves symbol", taken away because of the competing claims by the two factions. Meanwhile Mr. Palaniswami and Mr. Panneerselvam's separate meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi recently were seen to be the propellant for a merger.
Accordingly the BJP is believed to be heavily invested in a reunited AIADMK as it tries to gain political space in Tamilnadu, which has always oscillated between the regional rivals AIADMK and DMK. Further to stop the DMK, the BJP may go for an alliance with the AIADMK for the upcoming local body polls.
