In a major political development in Tamil Nadu, the ruling faction of the AIADMK has decided to sideline Ms VK Sasikala, who has been the long time aide of late leader Jayalaithaa from the party. Senior leaders of the AIADMK Amma faction including many ministers discussed about the political situation in the state among themselves twice yesterday in Chennai.

Later, they met the chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy and had a lengthy discussion. After the long hours of huddle, Finance Minister D.Jayakumar told the media that it has been decided to sideline Mr TTV Dinakaran and his family from running the affairs of the party.

Dinakaran family includes Ms Sasikala, who was nominated the party General Secretary, serving a prison sentence in Bengaluru. He said the decision reflects the collective opinion of the grassroot level workers of the party, its MLAs, MPs and ministers. He expressed the readiness of the ruling AIADMK faction to hold talks with the rival group led by Mr O.Panneerselvam for a merger any time. However, loyalists of Mr TTV Dinakaran have declined to accept the decision.

The decision to keep Ms VK Sasikala and her close associates from the ruling AIADMK faction, is viewed as an attempt to bolster the raproachment efforts, with the breakaway faction led by Mr O.Panneerselvam. He made the demand open at his home constituency near Theni yesterday saying, any merger move is possible ony after keeping away Ms Sasikala and her close associates from the party.

Minister Mr Jayakumar echoed the view saying, the dominance of a single family in running the party would be detrimental to its interests and a core group would be made in charge of the party management. The developments come in the wake of the Delhi Police booking Mr TTV Dinakaran for attempting to bribe Election Commission officials to retain the frozen symbol Double Leaves