CHENNAI: A day after asserting that V K Sasikala, former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s close-aide, was in no way connected with the AIADMK and that he had no difference of opinion with party coordinator O Panneerselvam, AIADMK joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday met Panneerselvam at a hotel in the city in an attempt to break the ice.
The growing unease between EPS and OPS over a range of issues — including reinduction of Sasikala into the party — reached a new high after Palaniswami became leader of the opposition with many elected members throwing their weight behind him.
EPS held a meeting of district secretaries at party headquarters in Chennai on Friday, even as OPS was very much in the city, just a few kilometres away from the party office.
“It was Palaniswami who expressed interest to meet OPS in the hotel, where the latter stayed.
The meeting lasted 15 minutes with EPS offering an explanation as to why he visited the party office.
His visit was also to give an impression that there was no difference of opinion between the duo,” said a source.
Interestingly, former health minister C Vijayabaskar, who met EPS at his Greenways Road residence on Friday, was also present when the leaders met on Saturday.
OPS left for Theni after EPS left the hotel.
The party headquarters office-bearers maintained that the meeting of the two leaders was to condole the death of Panneerselvam’s brother, O Balamurugan, last month.
Insiders said that EPS maintained that his visit to the party office had more to do with religious sentiments.
Only very few people turned up there.
Incidentally, the EPS camp called up nine secretaries of party Chennai districts to present themselves during his visit to the party office.
Sources said that Paneeerselvam had been in touch with Sasikala.
He has been keen on taking Sasikala on board to appease the aggrieved mukkulathor community.
Meanwhile, the audio clips of Sasikala speaking to cadres about her return to active politics and the AIADMK continue to surface on social media every day.