Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (L), former AIADMK general secretary TTV Dinakaran (C) and TN Chief Minister E K Palanisami (R). Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (L), former AIADMK general secretary TTV Dinakaran (C) and TN Chief Minister E K Palanisami (R). Six months after former chief minister O Panneerselvam revolted and attempted to split the AIADMK, a merger seems close. The two factions are allegedly under pressure from the BJP to announce the merger before August 22, the day party president Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu. The BJP national leadership has been informed that the merger will be announced on Monday, top leaders from both factions said.

Source: Indian Express August 19, 2017 23:45 UTC