Prohibitory Orders Around AIADMK HQ in Chennai as Party Expels OPS After EPS Gains Control | Updates

The AIADMK General Council meet on Monday expelled rival leader O Panneerselvam from the party’s primary membership and his post of treasurer but the defiant leader said his rival Edappady K Palaniswami has no right to show him the door and rather announced the ‘expulsion’ of the latter from the party. Amid a big round of applause from the General Council members, at its meeting at a marriage hall here, a special resolution moved by senior leader Natham R Viswanathan to remove Panneerslvam and his supporters was adopted unanimously.

The resolution accused Panneerselvam of siding with the DMK regime and having ties with the ruling party leaders and working to weaken the AIADMK. OPS acted against the party interests, its goals and principles. He took steps including approaching police to stall the June 23 General Council meet, which was jointly convened by him along with Palaniswami.

The AIADMK alleged that Panneerselvam pursued selfish interests. The party expelled Panneerselvam from his post of treasurer and primary membership. It also expelled his supporters, R Vaithilingam, P H Manoj Pandian–both legislators and ex-MLA JCD Prabakar. Responding, Panneerselvam said he was elected as Coordinator by “1.5 crore” party workers and that neither Palaniswami nor another leader, K P Munusamy, had the right to expel him.

Condemning the two for expelling him “uniltaerally” and against party rules, Panneerselvam said “I expel them from primary membership,” of the AIADMK. Responding to reporters’ queries on the next course of action, he said he would approach the courts with the support of party workers and secure justice.

The AIADMK headquarters here was sealed by authorities on Monday following violence and vandalism between supporters of rival leaders EPS and OPS in and around the party office.

The Madras High Court on Monday rejected a plea from AIADMK leader and former co-ordinator O Panneerselvam to stay the conduct of the general council meeting holding that the court cannot interfere into the squabbles of a political party. Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy delivered the verdict on Monday morning, which allowed the EPS faction to hold the GC meet, the supreme decision making body of the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu.

The GC meeting may take steps to remove Panneerselvam as treasurer as he has “failed” in discharging his duties. It is being said that Panneerselvam is likely to skip the meeting and is holding discussions with his supporters at his Greenways Road residence.

With the OPS camp stoutly opposing the meeting to pick Palaniswami as the top leader, the party has installed entry control equipment like flap barriers and turnstile to allow only authorised functionaries with access cards, seen as a first in Tamil Nadu by any political party.

A large open area on the premises has been tin-roofed to host the event and accommodate about 3,000 functionaries. A grand dais, about 80 ft in length and 40 ft in breadth, is set to accommodate senior leaders.

The entire premise is decked up with portraits of party icons, M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa while Palaniswami’s picture is carefully interspersed. The entire locality wore a festive look and Palaniswami is set to be given a grand reception on his arrival for the meeting.

EPS supporters and party leaders, including P Thangamani and R B Udhayakumar, on Sunday reviewed the arrangements being made to host the event. While Palaniswami’s side said the support from GC members has increased to 2,455, Panneerselvam faction said that OPS had the support of 1.5 crore party members.

The party has about 2,650 GC members Party functionaries vied with one another in placing advertisements in party organ ‘Namadhu Amma’ to support EPS and the party’s Tamil daily was full of promotion material hailing Palaniswami as the party’s dawn and future.

AIADMK sources told PTI that Panneerselvam, the party treasurer, has the option of only boycotting the meeting. On June 23, when the GC met, chaotic scenes were witnessed and a sidelined OPS was prompted to walk away with his supporters after making known his opposition to Palaniswami camp.

Since last month, the AIADMK has been witnessing serious intra-party wrangling over the issue of single-leadership and Palaniswami has the support of an overwhelming majority and Panneerselvam has been sidelined in the party. It is expected that the AIADMK may soon act against Panneerselvam.

The Madras High Court said on Friday that it would pass order on July 11, by 9 AM, on a plea against holding the General Council meeting. The meet was originally scheduled to be held on July 11 and it was slated to commence in the morning, that day. Now the fate of the meeting hinges on the court verdict. Panneerselvam is against the meeting and Palaniswami, who is expected to be elected the supreme leader in the GC meeting, is for it.

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