Just in: The two warring AIADMK factions inch closer to a merger with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami agreeing to two demands of the O Panneerselvam faction.

The OPS faction had set three conditions for the merger. The removal of TTV Dinakaran and his aunt VK Sasikala from key posts in the party. EPS is however reluctant to disown Sasikala openly, but had announced last week that no decision taken by Dinakaran will be binding on the party. In a resolution passed by the party, 7 office-bearers of the EPS faction AIADMK (Amma) signed a resolution against Dinakaran requesting the party cadre to reject the appointments made by him.

The EPS faction has now agreed to fulfill the other two demands  -- ordering a judicial probe into the death of former CM J Jayalalithaa and turning her Poes Garden residence into a memorial.

The merger talks between two factions of the AIADMK have been on for several weeks now. Leaders from both the O Panneerselvam faction and the Edappadi Palaniswami faction have made multiple trips to New Delhi.