Chennai, March 27 (BPNS)

AIADMK joint coordinator and former  Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) have said that there was no scope for former interim general secretary, V.K.Sasikala back to the party fold. He was responding to media persons at Salem on Sunday.

It may be recalled that party Chief coordinator and former Chief Minister, O. Panneerselvam had while speaking to media after deposing before the Arumughaswami commission probing the circumstances leading to the death of J. Jayalalithaa had said that he had high respects for Sasikala. He had also fondly referred to her as ‘Chinnamma’.

The statement of Panneerselvam had sparked rumours in the state unit of the AIADMK that some political developments were taking place behind the curtains for a possible reentry of Sasikala. However, Edappadi K. Palansiwami has for the time being put an end to that rumours with the statement that there was no place for Sasikala in the party.

He also recalled that the resolutions adopted against her entry into the party by the district units of the AIADMK and the top leadership were announced by him and Panneerselvam.

However, sources in the OPS camp while speaking to BPNS said, “Sasikala’s entry cannot be blocked by Edappadi K. Palaniswami. The party rout in its stronghold of South Tamil Nadu is due to the ire of the Thevar community to which both OPS and Sasikala belong and that community is pulling the strings for her reentry.”

He also said that Palaniswami is also not in a strong wicket in Edappadi in Salem district, where also the party had faced a major rout in the urban local body polls.