Edappadi elected as AIADMK's interim general secretary; OPS expelled

The AIADMK on Monday (July 11) elected Edappadi K Palaniswami as the party’s interim general secretary while his party rival O Pannerselvam was expelled from the party during the General Council meeting in Chennai.

AIADMK General Council brought in a special resolution to remove Panneerselvam (OPS) from the party’s treasurer post as well as from the primary membership of the party for involving in anti-party activities.

OPS was expelled from the party for violating the party’s by-laws. OPS’ supporters Vaithilngam, JCD Prabhakaran and Manoj Pandiyan were also sacked from the party.

Minutes after being removed from the party, Panneerselvam criticised Palaniswami and KP Munusamy for functioning arbitrarily against the party’s by-laws.

OPS said he will remove Palaniswami and Munusamy from the primary membership of the party. He added that the duo does not have powers to remove him from the party.

“We will approach the court and get justice with the support of the party workers,” said Panneerselvam.

Earlier, holding that the court cannot interfere into the squabbles of a political party, the Madras High Court on Monday rejected a plea from Panneerselvam to stay the conduct of the general council meeting of the party.

Also read: AIADMK’s two-leaves symbol torn apart in OPS-EPS faction feud

Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy delivered the verdict on Monday morning, which allowed the EPS faction to hold the GC meeting, the supreme decision-making body of the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu.

After hearing the lengthy arguments of the senior counsels for OPS and EPS, the judge had on July 8 reserved the orders for Monday.

Also read: SC stays Madras HC order on AIADMK leadership row

The court also dismissed another suit challenging the GC meeting.

The GC meeting can be conducted in accordance with the law, the judge said.