Chennai: Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) was elected as the interim general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Monday at the controversial general council meeting, called by the leader to deliberate on the single leadership issue in the party.
During the meeting, currently underway, the council also scrapped the posts of party coordinator and co-coordinator — an innovative concept of dual leadership put in place to keep the ranks united after party chief J. Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016
The AIADMK also sought a Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, for the late chief.
Ahead of the meeting, dramatic scenes had unfolded near the AIADMK headquarters, as a scuffle broke out between the supporters of party leaders EPS and O. Panneerselvam (OPS) early morning.
OPS and EPS were coordinator and co-coordinator of the AIADMK, respectively.
Meanwhile, in the petition put forward by OPS to stall the meeting called by his rival EPS, the Madras High Court allowed the general council meeting to go ahead at around 9am, Monday. Counsels representing EPS told reporters: “The Court has allowed all proceedings to go ahead.”
AIADMK Banners with images of Edappadi K. Palaniswami destroyed by O. Panneerselvam’s supporters | Credit: Sowmiya Ashok, ThePrint
Effectively, the leadership issue which has plagued the party for weeks spilt on to the streets as supporters of both factions brandished knives at each other and pelted stones, damaging some vehicles parked in the area in the process.
Former AIADMK minister K.P. Munusamy condemned the violence at the party headquarters in Royapettah, around 15 km away.
Also read: Palaniswami-led AIADMK is bad news for BJP in Tamil Nadu but it opens up opportunities too
An appeal for ‘unitary leadership’
Supporters of OPS broke open the door of the party office early Monday, shouting slogans, even destroying pictures of EPS on party banners.
With the Madras HC allowing the meeting, the EPS faction within the AIADMK has gotten the better of OPS in a battle for supremacy.
EPS was appealing to return to the “unitary leadership” system by changing the bylaws of the party, by which Jayalalithaa had been appointed “eternal general secretary” after her death, and the dual leadership system introduced, in 2017.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
Also read: AIADMK caught in leadership battle — as EPS camp ‘eyes sole charge’, OPS wants key meet deferred
Source: The Print
