High drama at AIADMK meet, all eyes on next July 11 GC
All 23 resolutions rejected; OPS rushes to Delhi, claims it is for the Presidential polls
Furious over the turn of events triggered by the High Court’s restriction on amending the bye-law to elevate joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami as the next general secretary of the AIADMK, the general council members owing allegiance to him refused to adopt the 23 resolutions that were to be passed at the meeting on Thursday. The council is set to meet again on July 11, provided the leading faction is able to overcome the legal challenge posed by party coordinator O Panneerselvam before that.
In the end, the only notable events were Panneerselvam and senior leader V Vaithilingam staging a walkout in protest, and Tamil Magan Hussain being chosen as the presidium chairman.
Soon after the meeting began around 11 am, senior leaders C Ve Shanmugam and KP Munusamy announced that all the 23 proposed resolutions were rejected by the general council members. “The 2,190 general council members have rejected the resolutions. They only wanted to discuss unitary leadership in this meeting. Unless it is taken up, the other resolutions will not be adopted,” Shanmugam said. Claiming that the present dual-leadership arrangement has affected the AIADMK, he sought for another GC meeting to take up the matter. The cadre were demoralised by the party, he said, adding, “The next meeting should reject dual leadership and accept unitary leadership.” Heeding to this, presidium chairman Tamil Magan Hussain announced that the next general council meeting would be held on July 11.
The meet saw EPS emerging as the supreme leader and he was honoured with a decorated crown, a sword and sceptre by supporters. Meanwhile, party coordinator Panneerselvam and Vaithilingam staged a walkout alleging that the meeting was not conducted properly. Soon after the meeting, deputy coordinator Munusamy said the next general council meeting would elect Palaniswami as general secretary. Senior leader D Jayakumar said Panneerselvam should accept what the party decided, adding there was no plans to sideline any leader. “But if Panneerselvam does not accept the party’s call, he would be isolated,” he added.
Vaithilingam said the meeting which appointed Hussain as presidium chairman was invalid. “He does not have the authority to announce the next general council meeting; it has to be decided by the coordinator and joint coordinator,” he said. OPS left for Delhi to explore options like approaching the Election Commission to take forward his fight against EPS faction. He, however told reporters, “It is in connection with the Presidential election. The BJP has invited. I am going to Delhi to take part in the BJP’s nomination filing process.”
Meanwhile, certain reports were doing the rounds on social media on bottles having been hurled at OPS.
Legal hurdles for party?
Political commentators and analysts have opined that the party is heading towards more legal complications in the coming days as it was not clear whether the July 11 meet will be a fresh event or an extension of Thursday’s meet in which resolutions were not passed.
“The AIADMK is heading for more legal turmoil as the next general council meeting called by team Edappadi K Palaniswami is illegal and it will lead the party to destruction. No one can convene the general council without the signature of the party coordinator O Panneerselvam,” said AIADMK Thanjavur strongman and AIADMK deputy coordinator R Vaithilingam to reporters at the party headquarters here on Thursday.
The AIADMK faction led by OPS also went into a legal huddle and has left for Delhi. Sources close to OPS said that the party coordinator is likely to file a complaint with the Election Commission of India stating that the existing bye laws of the party are violated and diluted.
Political commentators and analysts also opined that the party is heading towards more legal complications in the coming days and said it was not clear whether the July 11 meet, will be a fresh general council event or an extension of today’s event in which several resolutions were not passed.
“Whether the presidium chairman Thamizhmagan Hussain has the jurisdiction to convene the council without the approval of coordinator OPS is an issue that needs clarity. It is also reported that OPS is likely to file a petition with the Election Commission and under these circumstances the party matter will only get legally more complicated,” said Madras High Court advocate and political commentator S Agneeswaran.
“AIADMK coordinator Panneerselvam is willing to hold talks with Palaniswami camp and we are of the firm view that only joint leadership could lead the party back to power,” Vaithilingam said.
“The general council could not elect Hussain as presidium chairman. Further, he had no powers to convene the general council meeting. We will move a contempt petition against the agenda of appointing presidium chairman without the approval of OPS. Any such meeting that was not convened in this manner would amount to contempt of court, Vaithilingam claimed.
“The council members behaved in a rude and undisciplined manner. This was like a meeting organised by well planned anti socials. Soon OPS should join VK Ssaikala so that the party can be saved from the clutches of Kongu politicians,” a former AIADMK MLA said.