After EPS-OPS merger, AIADMK in new crisis with Dinakaran pulling the plague

In a sweeping move that revived a bitter power struggle within the organisation, Dinakaran, nephew of the jailed party leader V Sasikala, also shunted out  several district functionaries and appointed his supporters, media reports said.

Udayakumar was heading the party's Puratchi Thalaivi Amma Peravai, named after Jayalalithaa, the departed party supremo.

In a statement, Dinakaran said that Manamadurai MLA S Mariappan Kennedy has been appointed as secretary of the Amma Peravai.

  "I request the cadres to extend support to Kennedy. This announcement is made with the approval of party general secretary V K Sasikala," Dhinakaran said in a statement.

Kennedy was among the 19 party legislators who had met the Governor to lodge protest against the merger of E Palaniswamy and O Paneerselvam factions and the ouster of V Sasikala, the jailed party leader.

The legislators also withdrew support to Chief Minister E Palaniswamy.

The 19 legislators say that the Chief Minister has betrayed them by moving to expel VK Sasikala and her nephew.

Dinakaran's move came a day after Vaithilingam, a Palaniswamy loyalist, said that steps will be taken to remove Sasikala from the party.

With the revolt by  19 Dinakaran loyalists, the Palaniswamy Government faces a daunting task even though the two rival factions have buried their hatchets.

EPS and OPS together command 134 legislators. To win a trust vote, they need the support of 117.

Opposition DMK leader M K Stalin has already, demanded a floor test to prove the majority of the Palaniswamy Government.