Soon after the disqualifications of the 18 MLAs of the TTV Dinakaran camp was announced this morning this is what followed:
Dr V Maitreyan, Rajya Sabha MP of the AIADMK met Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.
Dr V Maitreyan then met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
We have learnt that consultations are on over the legal and political ramifications after the disqualifications.
Manoj Pandian, a senior lawyer of the AIADMK, also held discussions with Supreme Court advocates and got draft affidavits approved to be presented to the Election Commission.
On Tuesday, a high-level delegation is likely to meet the Election Commission to submit a petition that the two groups of AIADMK identified as the OPS and EPS groups have met and passed a resolution of their merger and elected O Pannerselvam as the coordinator of the AIADMK.
The decision of the Election Commission on the two leaves election symbol of the AIADMK is crucial for the ensuing Panchayat polls in Tamil Nadu.
The removal of VK Sasikala as general secretary of the AIADMK was drafted in New Delhi. This week, OPS and EPS are likely to air dash to Delhi to say a big thank you. There were accusations from the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Opposition that the BJP is scripting the political drama in Tamil Nadu drama.
There is no immediate evidence for this, but it may be recalled that Palaniswami met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July for an hour followed by another meeting with O Pannerselvam.
The BJP has always been saying that two factions of the AIADMK should merge to keep Sasikala out of the AIADMK. That has since happened, and it is believed to have been discussed by the PM at the his meetings with EPS and OPS
It is likely that the AIADMK will be part of the Union Cabinet. M Thambidurai and Dr V Maitreyan have prepared their groundwork for this purpose. Informed sources confirm that the AIADMK might join the Modi government before the winter session of Parliament since there has been a political pressure from AIADMK to this effect.