New Delhi/Chennai: The two rival factions of the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) led by Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and O. Panneerselvam have announced their merger on Monday from the party headquarters in Chennai.

The merger came after months of negotiations between the EPS and OPS faction with the key sticking point being the “formal expulsion" of party general secretary V.K. Sasikala. There is no clarity yet on Sasikala’s eviction from the party, but News18 reports that AIADMK’s general council will take the issue forward.

A series of steps by the Tamil Nadu government has brought the two sides closer to a merger. Most recently, Palaniswami announced on Thursday that an enquiry commission will be constituted under a retired judge to probe into the December 2016 death of Jayalalithaa, a key demand of the rival faction led by Panneerselvam.

Here are the latest updates and developments on the merger of the two AIADMK factions:

■ MLAs owing allegiance to T T V Dhinakaran to meet Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao tomorrow, said Dhinkaran aide P Vetrivel.

■ R. Vaithilingam, AIADMK MP: Steps will be taken to remove AIADMK general secretary V. K. Sasikala by convening the general council meeting, senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP R. Vaithilingam today said.

Vaithilingam, a leader of the Palaniswami camp, addressing the merger meet at the party headquarters, said measures will be initiated soon to remove Sasikala.

By making the announcement, the Palaniswami camp has conceded a key demand of the Panneerselvam faction for the merger that took place today.

Vaithilingam, a former minister, was named party deputy coordinator just before he addressed the meet.

Ahead of the merger, an AIADMK functionary Avadi Kumar told reporters that it was the general council which elected Sasikala and any subsequent action in respect of her expulsion can be taken only by it. (PTI)

■ Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates O. Pannerselvam and others who took oath today, hoping “Tamil Nadu scales newer heights of progress in the years to come."

Centre assures all possible support to CM Thiru Edappadi K. Palaniswami & Dy CM Thiru O Panneerselvam for the growth of TN. @OfficeOfOPS — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2017

■ V. Pugalendi, TTV Dinakaran & Sasikala faction: “It’s an act of making fool of people&party cadre.Been saying that this govt is most corrupt." (ANI)

■ D. Jayakumar: “Golden day in the history of AIADMK. All cadres and leaders are happy. No disappointment for me. Bad time begins for TTV Dinakaran. Whoever thinks bad for Amma’s govt will be ousted." (ANI)

■ V. Maitreyan: “Obstacle has been removed, two-factions of the party have been united again." (ANI)

■ K. P. Munusamy: “General body meeting must be immediately convened and the secretary must be removed," (ANI)

■ Dhivaharan, V.K. Sasikala’s brother: “This is a betrayal. When General Secretary is in jail, they have done this. Only the General Secretary can call for General Council meeting." (News Minute)

■ O. Panneerselvam sworn in as the deputy CM of Tamil Nadu at Raj Bhawan. OPS will also get Finance, Housing, Rural Housing and Housing Development, Slum Clearance Board and Accommodation Control, Town Planning, Urban Development and Chennai Metropolitan Authority.

Four other OPS camp members to get cabinet berths.

— K. Pandiarajan - Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture and Archaeology

— U.K. Radhakrishnan - Animal Husbandry

— P. Balkrishna Reddy - Youth Welfare and Sports Development

— C.V. Shanmugam - Mines and Minerals

■ C. R. Saraswathi, TTV Dinakaran-VK Sasikala faction: “We are happy with the merger but billion dollar question is why are they avoiding us?" (ANI)

■ Cabinet reshuffle: O. Panneerselvam to be deputy Chief Minister. (PTI) Tamil Nadu Raj Bhawan press release lists portfolio allocation. Panneerselvam to get finance and several other portfolios.

■ Can’t oust V.K. Sasikala now as she was appointed by the General Council, says Avadi Kumar, spokesperson, AIADMK-EPS faction, tweets Livemint’s Dharani Thangavelu.

■ AIADMK factions led by chief minister K. Palaniswami and rebel leader O. Panneerselvam came together today after a bitter split about six months ago.

A smiling K. Palaniswami and O. Panneerselvam shook hands signifying the formal merger of both the factions at the party headquarters here.

Palaniswami said Paneerselvam will be AIADMK’s coordinator while he will be the joint coordinator.

“The burden in my heart is gone," Panneerselvam said adding “none can separate us, we are children of Amma (late chief minister Jayalalithaa), we are brothers."

He said the merger was not only the desire of Tamil Nadu people, but also of the of 1.5 crore AIADMK cadres.

Chief minister K. Palaniswami praised Panneerselvam for facilitating the merger, amidst thunderous applause and jubilant scenes at a crowded cermony. (PTI)

■ O. Panneerselvam has been made convener of the party, while CM Palaniswami will be co-convener.

■ “We are now going to Amma’s samadhi to seek her blessing. I am happy to be back in your midst," says O. Panneerselvam after announcing the merger with EPS faction.

News18 reports cabinet expanion likely at 4pm today. O. Panneerselvam expected to be made deputy chief minister and may get finance and public works department.

■ Actor Kamal Hassan mocks AIADMK merger in his tweet, reports News18. “Gandhi cap! Saffron cap! Kashmir cap! Now, the fool’s cap sits on the Tamilian’s head. Is this enough or you want more? Please stand up, Tamilians."

■ Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and O. Panneerselvam arrive at the AIADMK headquarters.

■ O. Panneerselvam confirms merger between the two AIADMK factions. The former Tamil Nadu CM is on his way to the AIADMK headquarters.

■ Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami reaches AIADMK headquarters, while Panneerselvam expected to reach shortly. S. Semmalai from the OPS camp says, “All demands have been met, we are happy with everything. Heading to party office & expect good news only," reports the News Minute.

■ BJP president Amit Shah’s three-day visit to Tamil Nadu scheduled from 22 August, has been cancelled. (ANI)

■ Palaniswami cancels his scheduled visit to AIADMK headquarters, reports News18. Meanwhile, the channel also reports that ministers P. Thangamani, S.P. Velumani and Natham R. Viswanathan from the EPS faction arrive at O. Panneerselvam’s residence.

■ 17 AIADMK MLAs, who are supporters of TTV Dinakaran, are at his Besant Nagar residence. A meeting is currently underway. (ANI) In case Dinakaran gets more than 17 MLAs on his side, the EPS government will become a minority in terms of strength.

■ Governor Vidyasagar Rao has arrived at Chennai airport. Rao’s arrival in Chennai was seen to confirm a merger followed by a cabinet expansion, according to NDTV.

■ Merger talks meet between the two rival factions of the AIADMK has been delayed over VK Sasikala and her role in the party. OPS camp wants documents that says V.K. Sasikala has been sidelined. EPS camp is yet to respond, News18 reports.

■ Governor of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra C. Vidyasagar Rao to reach Chennai today amid AIADMK merger speculation. Rao’s PRO cancelled all appointments for a day in Mumbai, ANI reports.

■ Writer and thinker Tamizharuvi Manian claimed that superstar Rajinikanth had told him he had decided to enter politics. Addressing a conference in Tiruchirappalli to project Rajinikanth as an ‘alternative force to DMK and AIADMK,’ he said both Dravidian parties should be removed from Tamil Nadu, as they had “spoiled" the governance in the state.

“The system in Tamil Nadu has been spoiled by these two parties and now Rajinikanth’s entry to politics will provide a pure and open government," Manian said on Sunday. The actor’s expectation was that those who stand with him should be free from corruption. “That is Rajinikanth’s wish," he said.

He said the actor had spoken of his decision to enter politics recently during a chat when he was asked whether he would finally take the plunge, given the speculation doing the rounds among people for nearly 20 years.

“For the past 20 years, people have been saying that you will enter politics. Will you definitely enter politics?" he said he asked the star to which Rajinikanth replied he had decided to take the plunge.

“I have taken a decision to enter politics...It was God’s order to me to enter politics, so I will will definitely enter politics," Manian quoted the star as having said. He told the gathering that if they fail to support the actor now and fail to back him, there was no scope for Tamil Nadu to develop, rise and prosper as a state. (PTI)

■ AIADMK party MLAs and workers reach party headquarter in Chennai, ANI reports.

Tamil Nadu: Amid #AIADMKMerger speculations, party MLAs and workers reach party headquarter in Chennai. pic.twitter.com/6Bo7tXdLXE — ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2017

■ Monday being considered auspicious in the wake of it being ‘Amavasya,’ there is a chance of the merger deal getting sealed, according to PTI.

In Erode on Sunday, AIADMK Amma faction veteran and education minister K. A. Sengottaiyan told reporters “It will be a good decision and will happen to the liking of cadres and people." (PTI)

■ The AIADMK merger was set to be sealed on Friday night, but internal disagreements within the Panneerselvam camp on power-sharing turned out to be a roadblock. On Friday, both the factions had confirmed that chief minister Palaniswami and Panneerselvam would come together to announce the merger in front of late CM J. Jayalalithaa’s memorial. Read more

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