Former Tamil Nadu Minister K.P. Munswamy, who played a key role in the merger of the factions led by OPS and EPS in forming the unified AIADMK of today, has said that there still existed some degrees of ‘bitterness’ in the minds of those from the erstwhile OPS faction even after merging to form the ‘original’ AIADMK.

Speaking recently to newsmen in New Delhi, the AIADMK veteran added that he was highly confident that the bitterness would be removed in a natural process.  The former Minister’s open chat, however, have taken the AIADMK functionaries and cadres by surprise at a time when sections of the press were agog with rumours that not all was well between OPS and EPS.

“No doubt we have merged together to form the unified AIADMK; however, there still exist some degrees of bitterness among a few leaders and cadres.  As time moves on, we hope everything would be sorted out so that peace prevails in the party.  We are sure to get the ‘Two-Leaves’ symbol from the Election Commission and my prediction is based on what happened recently in the Samajwadi Party case,” he said.

“Jailbird Sasikala’s faction has submitted fake/forged documents; we have submitted CDs containing proceedings of September’s general council meeting of the party,” he said.  On another note, he asked the BJP leaders to restrain themselves while speaking in public.  “Tolerance is necessary in public life and I feel BJP leaders in the State are making random remarks about the content of the film Mersal.  Their talk can’t be linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he concluded.