EPS and OPS supporters stand divided in TN

CHENNAI: Despite frequent statements by Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam(OPS) of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) that all is well and that perceived differences ‘were mere rumours,’ their supporters appear to be holding a different view.

Party insiders say the districtlevel functionaries who supported OPS during his revolt against EPS were expecting key posts in the party but were now feeling disappointed.

A senior OPS camp member said the issue was raised in the meeting of district secretaries at party headquarters last Monday.

“Most of the secretaries supporting

INSIDERS SAY THE DISTRICTLEVEL FUNCTIONARIES WHO SUPPORTED OPS DURING HIS REVOLT AGAINST EPS WERE EXPECTING KEY POSTS

EPS are against the OPS supporters’ demand of bifurcating the party’s district units,” another AIADMK leader said.

Former minister KA Jayapal the OPS camp said, “Right now our agenda is to protect the party. We have hence sacrificed our wishes and are working for the welfare of the party.”

Speaking about the demand to bifurcate the district units of AIADMK, Jayapal said it will be a “good move towards strengthening the party”.

“A few AIADMK district secretaries and ministers are friendly with the DMK people. But, they don’t accept us (OPS supporters),” Jayapal claimed.

V Maithreyan, Rajya Sabha MP, said O Panneerselvam had raised this issue in the recent meeting.

“When the district secretaries meeting was conducted on Monday, OPS had spoken about the need to form 15-member guiding committee as was decided when the two camps were being merged. Also, the bifurcation districts will be done in future,” V Maithreyan told HT.

Former minister KP Munusamy, who is the joint coordinator in the AIADMK, said, “We’ve discussed all the issues in district secretaries meeting held last Monday.”