AIADMK-Amma deputy general secretary T T V Dhinakaran on Monday visited party general secretary and aunt VK Sasikala, who has been convicted in a disproportionate assets case and is serving a term at the Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara, South East Bengaluru.
Emerging from the meeting with Sasikala, Dhinakaran told journalists he had no idea why the AIADMK legislators had arrived in the prison. "It is a coincidence that these MLAs are here. We had no plans of meeting Chinnamma together. They have come on their own and I met her to discuss a few official matters.
"Talks on merger of AIADMK factions are on for 45 days and a few edgy ministers are making all kinds of statements. Some new developments will happen after six days. When it comes to my stepping down from the post, only the general secretary of the party can ask me to step down," he said.
At least 10 AIDMK MLAs were seen entering the admission room of the prison with Dhinakaran around 4 pm.
Dhinakaran arrived at the venue in a multi-utility vehicle bearing Karnataka registration. "He had come in his own vehicle, bearing Tamil Nadu registration. He had to change the vehicle following a technical snag," sources said.
Dhinakaran and his team spent more than 90 minutes with Sasikala and came out of the jail around 5.45 pm.
Before entering the visitors room, Dhinakaran mentioned the reason for his visit in the register as 'Official and to discuss political issues".
Sources said Sasikala and Dhinakaran were closetted in a room for an hour.
"The MLAs made a beeline to seek her blessings by prostrating before her. Sasikala is said to have wished them good luck, assured them that she will be interacting with them soon and returned to her barracks," the sources added.
Earlier in the day, rumours about Sasikala getting 30 days parole spread rapidly even as police officials, who got the news of Dhinakaran's arrival, deployed extra policemen outside Parappana Agrahara gate.
"We received unconfirmed news that Sasikala has been granted 30 days parole and that Dhinakaran was coming to take her to Chennai. As the day wore on, we did not get any confirmation, nor was there any direction from our superiors. After 2 pm, we were told that Dinakaran will be visiting Sasikala," prison officials told TOI.
Emerging from the meeting with Sasikala, Dhinakaran told journalists he had no idea why the AIADMK legislators had arrived in the prison. "It is a coincidence that these MLAs are here. We had no plans of meeting Chinnamma together. They have come on their own and I met her to discuss a few official matters.
"Talks on merger of AIADMK factions are on for 45 days and a few edgy ministers are making all kinds of statements. Some new developments will happen after six days. When it comes to my stepping down from the post, only the general secretary of the party can ask me to step down," he said.
At least 10 AIDMK MLAs were seen entering the admission room of the prison with Dhinakaran around 4 pm.
Dhinakaran arrived at the venue in a multi-utility vehicle bearing Karnataka registration. "He had come in his own vehicle, bearing Tamil Nadu registration. He had to change the vehicle following a technical snag," sources said.
Dhinakaran and his team spent more than 90 minutes with Sasikala and came out of the jail around 5.45 pm.
Before entering the visitors room, Dhinakaran mentioned the reason for his visit in the register as 'Official and to discuss political issues".
Sources said Sasikala and Dhinakaran were closetted in a room for an hour.
"The MLAs made a beeline to seek her blessings by prostrating before her. Sasikala is said to have wished them good luck, assured them that she will be interacting with them soon and returned to her barracks," the sources added.
Earlier in the day, rumours about Sasikala getting 30 days parole spread rapidly even as police officials, who got the news of Dhinakaran's arrival, deployed extra policemen outside Parappana Agrahara gate.
"We received unconfirmed news that Sasikala has been granted 30 days parole and that Dhinakaran was coming to take her to Chennai. As the day wore on, we did not get any confirmation, nor was there any direction from our superiors. After 2 pm, we were told that Dinakaran will be visiting Sasikala," prison officials told TOI.