Tamil Nadu Forest Minister, Dindigul C Srinivasan today said that AIADMK (Puraithi Thalaivi) led by former Chief Minister, O Paneerselvam was not coming forward for merger talks of the factions.

Though the ruling party (AIADMK Amma) has expressed its willingness to get the two factions together , Paneerselvam camp was not ready for talks, Srinivasan told reporters here.

Even Chief Minister, Edapadi Palanisamy had wanted the rebel faction to reunite with the parent party, for serving the people, as late Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, did, he said.

Srinivasan, who is also the treasurer, made it clear that V K Sasikala was elected as General Secretary by the party leaders, including Paneerselvam, C Ponnaiyan and P H Pandian and she in turn appointed him (Srinivasan) as treasurer.

AIADMK (Amma) has 123 MLAs, General council members, 37 MPs and 98 per cent of party workers, with it, he said.

“According to party regulations and with the consent of banks, we are spending the funds. However Paneerselvam has filed a complaint stating that there are irregularities, ” he said.

Srinivasan distributed degrees to 39 forest range officer trainees including six women who have completed 18 months course at the Tamil Nadu Forest Academy (TNFA), here.