AIADMK co-coordinator and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday called on party coordinator O. Panneerselvam at a city hotel.
The meeting lasted nearly 15 minutes. It was a courtesy call, said AIADMK sources.
According to a party release, Mr. Palaniswami met Mr. Panneerselvam to condole the death of the coordinator’s brother recently. Among those present at the meeting were former Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar and former Member of Parliament N. Balaganga.
The development assumes importance in the light of Mr. Panneerselvam not being present at a meeting held by Mr. Palaniswami at the party headquarters on Friday. The Leader of the Opposition had said there were no differences of opinion with his colleague.
AIADMK organisation secretary and former Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar said there was nothing to be surprised about the meeting. “What is wrong in the coordinator and the co-coordinator holding a meeting,” he wondered.
Emphasising that there were no differences in the party, he said, “Only the media are trying to exaggerate them.” But the party was working “vibrantly”. He was talking to reporters after paying homage at the mausoleum of Indian Union Muslim League leader M. Muhammad Ismail, along with former Ministers B. Valarmathi and Gokula Indira.
In a statement, Mr. Panneerselvam urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to order a study of the reasons for the increasing deaths of patients, though active cases were dipping and oxygen shortage was easing.
