AIADMK tweaks bylaws, seeks to shut door on Sasikala
CHENNAI: The main opposition AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, which is facing challenge from eased out leader V K Sasikala, on Wednesday amended its bylaws to strengthen norms to retain the present leadership structure of top two positions held by O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami.
The party also harped on ‘unity,’ and strengthening the ‘hands of party’s top leaders’ and to work hard to win future elections. The amendments to bylaws at the Executive Committee meeting of the AIADMK held here, effectively closes the door on Sasikala, who has claimed to be the party ‘general secretary,’ a post last held by the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who died in December 2016.
The commencement of the year long golden jubilee celebrations of the AIADMK on October 17 witnessed a vigorous attempt by Sasikala, confidante of Jayalalithaa, to get back control of the party, when she declared herself as its general secretary, which was strongly resisted by the party leadership. While amendments made in 2017 bestowed all the powers vested with the top position of general secretary to the then newly created positions of party coordinator (Panneerselvam) and joint coordinator (Palaniswami), the current tweaks further strengthen that top party structure. The first amendment mandates a ‘single vote’ by ‘primary members’ to elect the top leadership, which is the two positions of coordinator and joint coordinator. While the posts are two, there cannot be separate votes, as the twin positions together constitute the party top leadership.
According to the AIADMK, Sasiakala is not a member of the party, though she has claimed to be the general secretary.
Senior leader D Jayakumar told reporters that only those who have been primary members for five years or more are eligible to vote to elect the party leadership. The next amendment makes it clear that the fundamental rule that the party leadership can only be elected by the primary AIADMK members could neither be changed nor modified or revised.