EPS Not Ready To Budge, Reiterates He Won’t Re-Induct OPS, Dhinakaran & Sasikala: Sources | Politics News

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (PTI)

The rift between the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) seems to have intensified as party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami reiterated that he won’t budge and won’t reinduct expelled leaders, including O Panneerselvam, TTV Dhinakaran and VK Sasikala, sources said.

Palaniswami on Monday firmly rejected the renewed demand from senior leader KA Sengottaiyan for reinducting those who drifted away.

Speaking at a party meeting organised to celebrate the 117th birth anniversary of late Chief Minister CN Annadurai, EPS, without taking the names of the leaders, asked party cadre how he could allow back leaders whose supporters attacked the AIADMK headquarters in 2022, or those who took away 18 MLAs in an attempt to topple the government in 2017.

EPS Meets Amit Shah

EPS on Tuesday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and urged him to take action against the ruling DMK over corruption and law and order issues. EPS reportedly called for the fast-tracking of corruption investigations involving the DMK, specifically focusing on TASMAC operations, beach sand mining, and drug-related cases.

The AIADMK leader also cautioned the BJP against lobbying for the return of expelled leaders, stating it could harm the NDA alliance.

Additionally, EPS pushed for the Bharat Ratna to be conferred on freedom fighter and social reformer Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar and advocated renaming Madurai Airport in his honour.

The BJP top leadership, however, has asked EPS to focus on strengthening the NDA and announcing joint programmes for better strategy and coordination.

The BJP has assured EPS that he will continue to be their chief minister face.

He has also been asked to reach out to older NDA alliance partners, including PMK, which is facing an internal war.