Sasikala banners out from HQ; OPS faction hails move

Banners featuring AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala were on Wednesday pulled down from the party headquarters here, a move welcomed by the rival Panneerselvam camp.

The AIADMK (Amma) faction, however, said the removal of the banners had nothing to do with the demand of its rivals. "We did not remove the banners because they (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma camp) demanded so. They were removed as per an earlier decision taken by us," Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam, told reporters.

The Panneerselvam camp's 'Presidium Chairman' E Madusudanan had yesterday made such a demand to "uphold the sanctity" of the party office.

Meanwhile, former Minister and key Panneerselvam aide K P Munusamy said differences between the "brothers", an apparent reference to the rival factions, would be overcome and talks will be held in a conducive atmosphere.

The party HQ, addressed as 'Thalamai Nilayam' in Tamil, now has only banners of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

The Panneerselvam camp said removal of the banners was the "first step" in implementing their core demand of removing Sasikala from AIADMK.

"The pulling down of banners (featuring) Sasikala, whom we want to be removed from the party, is the first step in the implementation of that demand. We express our happiness over that," former Minister and key Panneerselvam aide K P Munusamy said.

Shanmugam said the leader of the Amma faction panel, R Vaithilingam, MP, has "contacted those" in the Panneerselvam camp and invited them for talks on Wednesday.

"So far there has been no information from them. We are ready to hold talks whenever required," he said.