Chennai: The spat between the two factions of the AIADMK continued with both of them hitting out each other with below the belt remarks and demanding the expulsion of a few leaders in the two camps.

AIADMK (PTA) presidium chairman E. Madhusudhanan started the slugfest with an allegation that the ruling faction has invited the OPS faction for merger with the intention of wiping them out.

He also demanded that ministers D. Jayakumar and ‘Dindigul’ C. Seenivasan be expelled to start the negotiations for merger. However, reacting to a question if the merger talks would continue, Madhusudhanan said “It is up to our leader OPS to take a decision on merger talks. Such questions should be posed to OPS since he is the leader”.

He alleged that the ruling faction AIADMK (Amma) tried to damage the OPS group, but the latter understood the conspiracy as he was trained by AIADMK founder MGR and former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

Madhusudhanan reiterated the demands for CBI inquiry into Jayalalithaa’s death and ousting of AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala’s family from the party.
He lashed out at AIADMK spokesperson Nanjil Sampath saying that the latter did not belong to the party and joined the AIADMK for some benefits. In a harsh reply to Madhusudhanan, minister Jayakumar compared the presidium chairman of the rival group to a bandicoot.

Coming out with a proverb that bandicoots would move in any direction under new moon darkness, Jayakumar said his leader Jayalalithaa had taught him to reply to criticisms.

“We are inviting them for talks with due respect, but they are giving different opinions every day and coming out with different conditions. We will be patient till a specific limit. But, Amma had taught us to given immediate reply to opponents’, he said justifying his strong reactions.

Jayakumar was speaking to the media at the airport here on his way to Srinagar to take part in the GST meeting. Madhusudhanan too spoke to the media earlier, while leaving for Dindigul for a meeting to be addressed by OPS. The finance minister said the discussion on demand for grants had taken place in June in 2009 and such a move to delay the discussion was not new.