Gen body meet and Sasi release, more challenges await AIADMK
CHENNAI: The problems of having dual and multiple leadership will pose a headache for the ruling AIADMK party.
Holding the annual general body meeting before December and the release of VK Sasikala is the next two important events for the party leaders to handle, AIADMK insiders said. “If the AIADMK wins the upcoming Assembly polls of 2021, Edappadi K Palaniswami will continue as the Chief Minister, but if the party loses who will be the leader of the opposition,” is the common question making rounds among AIADMK workers, said a ruling party MLA.
For now, the party has resolved the issues and there will not be any problem for the next two months, but there are several sections of leaders upset with the party for not giving a fair representation in the recently
announced
steering committee. “The MLAs representing the Mudhaliyar and Dalit communities. Then the women office-bearers in AIADMK feel neglected after the demise of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa,” a former district secretary said. Former women ministers like Valarmathi and Gokula Indira are committed
to the party right from the days of MGR and Amma and such people should be given prominence in the party, the former legislator opined.
Though party coordinator OPS was keen that the party steering committee should have seniors who are not ministers or enjoying power, EPS was keen that the ministers should be part of the committee to make it financially strong so that the committee can also pitch in for the poll-related expenses for party, a senior said.
He also noted that release of Sasikala will be a big political event for united AIADMK to sail through though majority are unwilling for the merger of AMMK with AIADMK, the party senior noted.
The recent announcement has helped AIADMK silence the criticism raised by DMK. But party seniors are feeling neglected, this should be addressed ahead of the next Assembly polls, opined Poonga Nagar Selvam, a north Chennai MGR Mandram functionary.
Further, the party has a lot of aspiring women workers and councillor aspirants. They are also upset for not holding the local body elections, Selvam said. “Our party workers are now waiting for the general council to convene and it usually convenes in December,” he added.
Women office-bearers in AIADMK feel neglected after the demise of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, a former district secretary said