"We have no information on Sasikala resigning as party chief," said minister D Jayakumar.
Senior Tamil Nadu Ministers held urgent consultations in Chennai on Monday night amid talk of merger of the rival AIADMK factions led by VK Sasikala/TTV Dhinakaran and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.
At the press conference after the meeting, Minister D Jayakumar said, "We discussed on the OPS statement of merging together. We welcome that, will hold talks."
Jayakumar added, "We have no information on Sasikala resigning as party chief. There is consensus among 123 MLAs to unite both factions."
"We should get our 'two leaves' symbol back. Together, we will get it for sure," he said.
The unscheduled late night meet, chaired by Electricity Minister K Thangamani, took place at his official residence at the Greenways Road. Ministers including Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, who is under the Income Tax scanner, were present at the meeting. Chief Minister K Palaniswami did not attend the meet, party sources said.
Vijayabaskar's presence is significant as it was speculated that his resignation was demanded by some senior Ministers. Ruling party legislators have also been asked to be available in the city on Tuesday, sources said.
Earlier in the day, rebel AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam had expressed confidence that the TTV Dhinakaran-led faction leaders would approach him for merger talks.
On speculations about merger of the two AIADMK factions and that he was going to be made "general secretary," he said no one has approached him for it so far. "If approached, we are ready to sit and talk and I have confidence that they (leaders) will come (for talks)," he told reporters.
His remarks came amid the speculations in a section of media that a merger was on the cards after dumping party interim chief V K Sasikala and her family, including deputy chief Dhinakaran.
On the FIR against Dhinakaran, the former chief minister said he would comment on it after getting full information. Answering a question, he said, only his faction would get the AIADMK party's two-leaves symbol.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami too held talks with his Cabinet colleagues. Earlier, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai said that Dhinakaran faction was ready for talks with Panneerselvam for a patch-up. Incidentally, Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao arrived in the city earlier in the day.
(With agency inputs)
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