PM Modi made me join hands with CM Palaniswami, claims O. Panneerselvam

In what could be seen a big twist in the Tamil Nadu politics, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi played a mediator's role and made him join hands with the incumbent chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami faction.

The southern state’s ruling party fell apart into two factions OPS and EPS, in a factional fight following the death of long-time chief minister J. Jayalalithaa.

While addressing a public meeting at Theni, Panneerselvam said he went to meet PM Modi who told him that when he met Jayalalitha in Chennai, she had told him a lot of things and requested Selvam to join back for the sake of the party.

Panneerselvam said that he decided to hold a designation only after PM Modi insisted him on taking a post.

However, he claimed that he never wished to hold any minister's portfolio when decided to join hands with the other faction.

There were serious speculations about differences between OPS and Chief Minister Palaniswami but were later refuted by Deputy CM saying they two are working unitedly.

Meanwhile, Panneerselvam had earlier said that no national party would find space in Tamil Nadu going by the electoral verdict in the state, where Dravidian parties have been recording successive Victories since 1967.

The reaction has come close on the heels of the bitter exchanges between AIADMK and BJP in the recent past over the functioning of the government, especially after the RK Nagar poll debacle.

Independent candidate TTV Dhinakaran, who was sidelined from the AIADMK by the EPS and OPS faction, won the prestigious and much-sought-after assembly seat.

Dhinakaran was evicted from the party along with VK Sasikala following a deal between AIADMK's factions led by EPS former OPS, as they merged in August.

Moreover, with Madras high court reserving its verdict in the disqualification of 18 MLAs, the political atmosphere continues to be volatile in the state.

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