Ex-AIADMK minister to support Panneerselvam

Former AIADMK leader R.S. Raja Kannappan has decided to extend his support to the party's faction led by former Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam, an official announced on Sunday

"Raja Kannappan has decided to join the Panneerselvam camp on Monday," former AIADMK parliamentarian K.C. Palaniswamy told IANS.

"Yes, I have decided to support Panneerselvam," Kannappan confirmed to IANS.

"I do not accept T.T.V. Dhinakaran's appointment as the party's Deputy General Secretary. After the death of J. Jayalalithaa in December, the party should have been handed over to the leaders who were there during founder M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa's time," Kannappan added.

According to Palaniswamy, for the Panneerselvam group Kannappan support is an advantage.

In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Kannappan lost narrowly to Congress leader P. Chidambaram.

More of the AIADMK's former ministers are expected to join the Panneerselvam group, Palaniswamy said.

Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK is split into two factions -- one led by the jailed party General Secretary V.K. Sasikala and the other led by former Chief Minister Panneerselvam.

Both the factions have fielded their candidates for the April 12, by-election from the Radhakrishnan Nagar assembly constituency.

The Election Commission has frozen the AIADMK's two-leaves symbol and the party name for the by-election.