EPS-OPS merger is like 'comedy of errors': DMK's Kanimozhi

Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)[India], Aug 22 (ANI): Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Kanimozhi on Tuesday said the merger of EPS and OPS factions of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is like a 'comedy of errors' and nobody could predict what would happen next in the party.

"It's like a comedy of errors. I really don't know what to say because they had been saying that merger will take place and everyday it was postponed. It happened today. Somebody else is saying that they will pull the government down. Nobody can understand what is happening inside the party so will have to wait and see," Kanimozhi told ANI.

Earlier on Monday, the two warring factions of the AIADMK - one led by Chief Minister E. Palanisamy (EPS) and the other by OPS -led by former chief minister O. Panneerselvam announced a merger, citing that "MGR (M.G. Ramachandran) always wanted to see us united, not split."

The striking part of the merger is that EPS has taken a backseat in the party, declaring OPS as the convenor of the party. EPS will be the co-convenor.

Palanisamy will continue to be the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, while O. Panneerselvam (OPS) took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister under the merged AIADMK government in the state.

Miffed with the decision, AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran dubbed the merger a 'business agreement between power hungry people.'

Taking to Twitter, Dinakaran said, "What happened today is not a merger. It's just a business agreement between people who are power hungry and selfish. Only God knows how long this merger would last."

He further hit out at the EPS faction for joining hands with people responsible for freezing party's elections symbol 'Two Leaves'.

"EPS has now joined hands with people who were responsible for freezing two leave symbol. This itself shows their desperation for power," he said in a series of tweets.

Disappointed over the move, Dinakaran's supporters in the AIADMK will also meet Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao on Tuesday. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI