EPS Elected Interim Gen Sec of AIADMK, OPS Expelled From Party

The AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) General Council members unanimously passed the resolution to bring a single leadership to the party and elected Edappadi K Palaniswami as the interim general secretary on July 11.

The 2500-plus members of the General Council expelled O Panneerselvam and his supporters, MLAs Vaithiyalingam, Manoj Pandian and JCD Prabhakar, from the primary membership of the party for their 'anti-party activities.

The posts of coordinator and joint coordinator, which Panneerselvam and Palaniswami held, were scrapped, citing difficulty in decision-making and discontentment among party cadres. The posts were created five years ago after the then AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala's arrest.

The General Council decided that wherever it reads "coordinator and joint coordinator" in the party rules, it would be replaced by "general secretary". And, wherever it reads "joint coordinator", it would be replaced by "joint secretary". The joint secretary would be selected by the general secretary.

Also, Palaniswami announced Dindukal Srinivasan as AIADMK treasurer, the post held by Panneerselvam.

Panneerselvam reached the headquarters by noon and staged a sit-in protest against the appointment of a new treasurer for the party.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "Palaniswami and KP Munusamy have no right to dismiss me from the party. I dismiss both of them from the basic membership of the party."

TENSION PREVAILED

Paneerselvam supporters protested outside the AIADMK's headquarters in Royapettah, Chennai, on the sidelines of the General Council meeting.

They vandalised property and engaged in violence against cops and Palaniswami supporters. They also broke open the locked door of AIADMK headquarters and entered the premises.

While Panneerselvam was headed to the headquarters, members of both the camps clashed, resulting in many sustaining injuries.

Panneerselvam supporters after entering AIADMK headquarters. Image courtesy: ANI

The violent protest disrupted daily activity in the region. The Bangalore-Chennai main road entering Chennai was almost blocked all forenoon.

Although the Greater Chennai Traffic Police issued a warning about traffic congestion in the AIADMK headquarters region ahead of the meeting, utter chaos and confusion unfolded in the area creating hindrance to the public.

Around 1:30 pm, section 144 of CrPC was promulgated in the AIADMK headquarters area, and the revenue department sealed the party office, citing it as ‘disputed’ property.

Violence outside the AIADMK headquarters. Image courtesy: The Hindu

Speaking to reporters after the General Council meeting, former minister and AIADMK leader Jayakumar said, “City Police Commissioner promised to take action on our representation following reports that anti-social elements were likely to intrude the meeting.”

He referred to how the police escorted Panneerselvam to the premises and accused the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) of working hand-in-glove with him to create ruckus in the AIADMK meeting.

Speaking at a panel discussion on Thanthi TV, political analyst Suresh Kannan said, “It looks like the government has given full support to OPS to carry out the entire occurrence… The police should have intervened much ahead and prevented the violence.”

The General Council meeting commenced at 9:15 am after the Madras high court rejected Panneerselvam’s plea to stall the meeting.

Sixteen resolutions were passed in the AIADMK General Council meeting.

It included resolutions against the DMK government, such as condemning the withdrawal of schemes passed during the AIADMK rule, the deteriorating law and order situation and false cases filed against AIADMK.

A resolution was adopted urging the centre to confer Bharat Ratna awards on late leaders- Periyar EV Ramasamy, CN Annadurai and J Jayalalithaa.