EPS takes OPS head on, says both AIADMK leaders should go back to original posts

Even as the O Panneerselvam (OPS) faction of AIADMK gears up for a long legal battle over the leadership issue within the party, the Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) team on Friday (June 24) announced that posts of coordinator and joint coordinator, held by Panneerselvam and Palaniswami respectively, have ceased to exist as the party’s General Council failed to approve the election.

Former state law minister and steering committee member C Ve Shanmugam told media persons on Friday that both the leaders will hold posts that they held before getting elected as the coordinator and joint coordinator. Shanmugam said that OPS  will be the treasurer and EPS will be the party’s headquarters secretary.

It may be recalled that on December 1, 2021, AIADMK’s executive committee tweaked the party by-law, thus paving the way for the primary party members to elect the coordinator and the joint coordinator.  A day later, Panneerselvam and Palaniswami were elected to the respective posts.

“The process has to be presented at the general council meeting and it should have been approved by the general council. However, the resolution itself was not presented before the General Council and thus the positions cease to be in force,” Shanmugam argued.

The OPS faction has said that the appointment of the party’s presidium chairman Tamil Magan Hussain was illegal. To which Shanmugam said it was done as per the party by-law.

Also read: AIADMK GC meet backs single leadership demand, favours EPS as leader

According to AIADMK by-laws, members of the general council elect the chairman of the central organization of the party.

“The chairman will preside over and conduct the proceedings of the central executive committee and the general council meetings. In the absence of the chairman, one of the members present will temporarily preside over and conduct the meetings,” the AIADMK’s by-law read.

So, the election of presidium chairman was legal and it does not need the approval of the coordinators and Joint coordinators,” Shanmugam concluded.

The former law minister said that since the posts of coordinator and joint coordinator have ceased to exist, the presidium chairman has the powers to convene a general council if one-fifth of the members of general council demand.

“If such a request is placed, the general council has to be convened in 30 days. So, the next general council will happen on July 11 as planned,” Shanmugam said.

Meanwhile, the OPS team has decided to approach the Election Commission of India, claiming that the General Council meeting held on June 25 was not valid and the election of presidium chairman was illegal.

“We will approach the concerned authorities and will get justice. But, all we want is unity and the two factions to be together. We will reveal our next plans in the coming days,” said Vaithilingam, another senior AIADMK leader close to OPS.

Also read: Madras HC restrains AIADMK general council from taking call on single leadership

JCD Prabhakaran, who belongs to the OPS faction, said they have not approached the EC yet, but are worried about the fate of the party.

“Whatever happened at the GC was done on EPS’ instructions. OPS was insulted at the meeting based on the instructions of EPS. However, OPS’ image has improved across the state. Only the functionaries are with EPS, but all the members of the party are with OPS,” Prabhakaran said.