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- Tamil Nadu AIADMK Leadership Tussle | Edapaddi K Palaniswami Elect As Interim General Secretary
One hour ago
Ahead of the crucial AIADMK meeting held in Chennai on Monday, the schism within the party came to the fore. It was decided in the general meeting that Palaniswami would be the interim general secretary of AIADMK. Subsequently, a meeting chaired by Palaniswami (EPS) passed a resolution that Panneerselvam (OPS) and his supporters be removed from the primary membership of the party.
Dindukal Srinivasan treasurer instead of OPS
In the General Council, Palaniswami told the workers – AIADMK is the only party in India which is working in a democratic way. Seeing my noble deeds, Jayalalithaa gave me departments like Highways and PWD. As a minister, I started many schemes. Now CM Stalin is using those schemes by pasting stickers. E Palaniswami announced to give the post of AIADMK treasurer to Dindukal Srinivasan. Earlier this post was with OPS.
Stalin conspired with Panneerselvam – EPS
In the meeting, EPS said – It has been 1 year since DMK formed the government with Stalin as CM. What has he done for the state? Law and order issues, drug addiction everywhere, youth are on the wrong track.
The EPS said- “We had asked for security for the party headquarters even before the General Council meeting. Despite our complaint, the police did not provide security. Today, CM MK Stalin and the OPS together destroyed the AIADMK office. Planned to do so. We strongly condemn it.”
Voices of protest became vocal in the general assembly
Former state minister and AIADMK leader Natham Viswanathan said about Panneerselvam after Palaniswami was elected general secretary in Vanagaram – O Panneerselvam has a double face. He doesn’t want anyone to have a good life. He is jealous. I am saying this from my own experience. I’m glad he’s out now. Palaniswami himself said that the OPS is cheating the AIADMK. We have to save the party.
I will fight for justice – Panneerselvam
On the other hand, OPS announced that they have expelled E Palaniswami and KP Munusamy from the party. He says- It is not valid for the General Council to expel me. We will take legal action. They have no right to remove me. 1.5 crore workers of the party have chosen me as the co-ordinator. We will go to court against it. I will meet the workers and seek justice.
These decisions were taken in the meeting
- Proposal to demand Bharat Ratna to Periyar, MG Ramachandran (MGR) and J Jayalalithaa.
- The end of the dual leadership in the party, now the General Secretary will be followed by the Deputy General Secretary.
- Organization elections to choose the General Secretary, which will be held within the next four months.
- AIADMK also abolished the posts of Co-ordinator and Joint Co-ordinator.
Party office doors were also broken
There was a fierce clash between supporters of O Panneerselvam and E Palaniswami near the party headquarters. The reason was that Panneer Selvam had petitioned the Madras High Court to stay the meeting of the General Council, but the High Court approved the meeting to be headed by Palaniswami. After this the commotion started. Stone pelting also took place between the two factions outside the party office. During the meeting, people broke the doors to enter the headquarters.
It is being told that some people have also suffered serious injuries. Security has been beefed up outside the party office. According to reports, Section 144 has been imposed around AIADMK office area in Royapettah, Chennai.
Panneerselvam’s supporters sat on a dharna to protest against Palaniswami being elected as the interim general secretary of the AIADMK at the party’s General Council meeting in Vanagaram.
Palaniswami rises in stature, Panneerselvam’s post will go
It was also decided in the meeting of the General Council that the right to appoint a deputy general secretary of the party would rest with the general secretary. In this meeting, it has been said that Panneerselvam should be removed from the post of treasurer of the party and also from the party. They are accused of failing to fulfill their duty.
In this way understand why there is conflict in AIADMK
- Since Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016, the party has been following a dual leadership formula with Palaniswami (EPS) as joint co-ordinator and Panneerselvam (OPS) as co-ordinator. The EPS faction wanted it to be a single boss leadership, while the OPS faction wanted the dual leadership pattern to continue in the party.
- After the meeting of the District Secretary on June 14, the demand for single leadership in the party intensified. Both the factions held talks several times to resolve this but were unsuccessful. The OPS had also written a letter to the EPS asking it to cancel the meeting of the General Committee, citing the party’s confusing condition. However, the EPS did not consider it.
- The OPS faction had rejected 23 proposals of members of the General Committee last month. Opposing that Palaniswami’s camp was about to pass a resolution on Single Leadership in its June 23 meeting, Panneerselvam said as per party rules this work cannot be done without his signature.
- The EPS enjoys the support of a larger number of party legislators and district secretaries as compared to the OPS. The EPS camp consists of about 75 district secretaries, 63 MLAs and 2190 general council members. And in the midst of the long-running drama, some loyalists of Ops also joined EPS. On Tuesday itself, Tiruvallur district secretary Alexander and Puducherry state secretary Anbalagan also extended their support to the EPS.
- Panneerselvam moved the Madras High Court to stop the General Body meeting to be held on 11 July. However, on Monday, Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy dismissed the petition saying that the court cannot interfere in the disputes of a political party. The meeting of the General Council may be held in accordance with the law.