Jayalalithaa's memorial on the Marina was decked up with flowers on Friday evening to host what looked like an imminent merger of the two AIADMK factions led by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and rebel leader O Panneerselvam.

The anti-climax came around 8 pm as the core team of the OPS camp hardened its stand, demanding a commitment from EPS that the chief minister's post and that of the party general secretary be given to OPS.

OPS camp insiders said a section within spurned the offer of deputy CM's post for OPS, arguing that he had been chief minister thrice, and hence cannot be EPS's deputy.