Chennai: Edappadi Ok. Palaniswami (EPS), who grew to become the sixth common secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) following a Madras Excessive Courtroom order that rejected all pleas by rival O. Panneerselvam (OPS), is now trying to consolidate his maintain on the celebration with an bold membership drive.
OPS had gone to courtroom questioning his expulsion from the celebration and EPS’ elevation because the celebration’s prime chief — EPS had been made AIADMK’s interim common secretary in July final 12 months. OPS had additionally sought a keep on the AIADMK’s common secretary elections.
Hours after the Madras Excessive Courtroom’s rejection of OPS’s problem Tuesday, AIADMK’s election in-charge Natham R. Viswanathan and Pollachi V. Jayaraman, introduced EPS to be the celebration common secretary, a submit which has earlier been held by celebration founder M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
EPS is the third CM (or former CM) after MGR and Jayalalithaa to develop into AIADMK common secretary. One other former common secretary, V.R. Nedunchezhian, had been performing CM for a short interval following MGR’s loss of life in December 1987.
“Inside an hour of being the celebration chief, EPS’ first announcement is about enrolling new cadres and infusing contemporary blood into the celebration,” AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan advised ThePrint, including that EPS was targeted on rising the celebration from the grass-roots degree and that there was no room for speak about factionalism within the celebration.
The facility wrestle between EPS and OPS has been embroiled in courtroom battles since June final 12 months, over the validity of the AIADMK’s common council conferences, the validity of the resolutions handed and choices taken — together with the appointment of EPS as interim common secretary and removing of OPS and his supporters from the celebration.
Tuesday’s setback for OPS solely means additional courtroom proceedings, stated senior members of his faction. The group has already filed for an pressing listening to with a two-judge bench of the Madras Excessive Courtroom for Wednesday, difficult Tuesday’s verdict.
Additionally learn: Poaching struggle deepens rift between BJP & AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, however events say ‘dedicated to alliance’
‘Work begins for 2024’
Following Tuesday’s developments — the excessive courtroom verdict and EPS being introduced celebration common secretary — the AIADMK headquarter in Chennai was buzzing with exercise, with celebration cadres distributing sweets, bursting crackers, showering flowers and elevating slogans of “Annan Edappadiyar, nerandara podhuchilalar, varangala mudhal amaichar Annan Edapadiyar (everlasting common secretary, brother Edappadi, future chief minister, brother Edappadi)”.
EPS even made an look sporting an MGR-style white cap and darkish glasses on the headquarters.
Talking to ThePrint, former AIADMK member of parliament Dr J. Jayavardhan stated, “The decision has boosted the morale of celebration employees.”
In accordance with Ma Foi Ok. Pandiarajan, a former AIADMK minister, the excessive courtroom verdict had introduced an finish to the problem of twin management within the celebration and that it was decisive with little scope for ambiguity.
“Media-influenced tales of factionalism should cease now. The decision will re-establish AIADMK because the premier celebration of Tamil Nadu,” he advised ThePrint.
Senior celebration leaders advised ThePrint that the AIADMK will start an enrollment drive from 5 April, aimed toward bringing extra individuals into its fold forward of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Pandiarajan added that EPS will give attention to filling six key positions within the govt physique and different posts which have remained vacant for the reason that removing of lots of OPS’ supporters from the celebration.
One other pressing work that celebration members imagine will occur quickly is a tour by EPS throughout Tamil Nadu.
“For 2024, the celebration and excessive command can have a gathering and we’ll resolve on EPS touring your entire state to make individuals conscious of the unfulfilled guarantees of the DMK (at the moment in energy within the state),” stated Jayavardhan.
Pandiarajan recollected the late Jayalalithaa’s state-wide tour. “Amma (as Jayalalithaa was popularly known as) had performed mega meets when she was within the opposition and it had led to the AIADMK bouncing again to energy in 2011, so a few of us suppose it is going to be a good suggestion to point out the identical energy in opposition to the (present) DMK authorities,” he stated.
Staff OPS to give attention to authorized battle
The Madras Excessive Courtroom’s single-judge bench of Justice Ok. Kumaresh Babu Tuesday rejected the petition of the OPS faction to remain the results of the 26 March AIADMK common secretary election. EPS was the lone candidate for the submit.
The courtroom additionally dismissed the problem of OPS and his supporters — P.H. Manoj Pandian, R. Vaithilingam and J.C.D. Prabhakar — to resolutions handed in an 11 July, 2022, AIADMK common council assembly. EPS had been made the interim common secretary on the assembly.
Talking to reporters in Mayiladuthurai on 26 March, OPS had stated the overall secretary election may solely be performed after renewal of celebration cadres’ membership and after intra-party elections.
He had additionally alleged that in the course of the time of MGR and Jayalalithaa, anybody may have stood for the celebration’s common secretary election however now, the bylaw had been modified.
“Now, 10 district secretaries every need to suggest and second the identify of the candidates contesting for the submit. I’m in opposition to this modification,” he added.
Senior leaders from the OPS aspect acknowledged that the authorized battle was removed from over and added that the “struggle for dharma and for the AIADMK will proceed”.
Jayavardhan, nevertheless, stated: “OPS has gone for an enchantment however dharma and fact are on our aspect (EPS faction), so we’re not apprehensive in regards to the authorized battle.”
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
Additionally learn: AIADMK opposes Tamil Nadu CM’s comment on ‘honour killing’ accused