After months of hard negotiations and several false starts, Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK party today finally announced a merger with Chief Minister E Palaniswami or EPS, and his rival O Panneerselvam or OPS shaking on it and also visiting together the beachside memorial of J Jayalalithaa, where OPS started his rebellion. The AIADMK has agreed to expel VK Sasikala, the jailed party chief. "The burden in my heart is gone. No one can separate us, we are children of Amma (Jayalalithaa), and we are brothers," Mr Panneerselvam said.