OPS, Sasikala hold separate shows of strength amid tussle for AIADMK
HT Correspondent
CHENNAI: Sidelined AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam and ousted leader V K Sasikala on Sunday held separate roadshows in Tamil Nadu, amid the messy changeover from a dual leadership in the party to a single leadership under former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.
Panneerselvam, who returned from a visit the Delhi, on Friday received a rousing welcome from his supporters when he reached Madurai district. Meanwhile, Sasikala whose re-entry into the AIADMK has been stonewalled, went on a road show in Thiruvallur district.
After the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in 2016, Sasikala held AIADMK’S reins as interim general secretary.
After she was convicted in a disproportionate assets case and sent to prison, Panneerselvam and Palaniswami joined hands to helm the party with the latter’s condition that Sasikala and her nephew, TTV Dhinakaran had to be removed from party positions and they were ousted. Later, Dhinakaran floated the Amma Makkal Munneetra Kazagam with a breakaway faction and supporters of Sasikala.
In Madurai on Friday, Panneerselvam told reporters that supporters of party founder M G
Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa are on his side. “People and party cadre will teach a fitting lesson to those behind the wrongdoing and conspiracy which led to an extraordinary situation.”
A huge crowd gathered on his route to his native district Theni.
Meanwhile, Sasikala told reporters in Tiruttani: “According to me, the party cadre and people are on my side. All the cadre want to be under my leadership and only if it’s that way, the party will be fine. I am confident I will set this problem right and bring back the AIADMK government.”
In a late development on Sunday, the AIADMK convened a meeting of office-bearers on Monday at 10am. The statement came from the secretary of the party headquarters. It did not name any leader.