According to initial estimates, at least 25,000 people turned up for the rally, ostensibly to mark MGR’s birth anniversary but essentially Dinakaran’s show of strength, making it the biggest party rally since late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s poll rallies in 2016. The rally comes at a time when the two factions, led by Chief Minister E K Palaniswami and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, seem set to seal a merger deal by ousting Sasikala and her family from the party. Last week, the ruling ‘EPS group’ said his appointment as party deputy general secretary was “not acceptable”. He accused the government of trying to stop MLAs and party cadres from attending the rally. “On February 23, when I was elected, I told the media that we are ready for any kind of probe.

Source: Indian Express August 14, 2017 22:13 UTC