Summary:
Chennai, Jun 27 (PTI) The AIADMK"s dominant Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) camp on Monday slammed rival leader O Panneerselvam (OPS) as a symbol of "betrayal" and said the upcoming General Council meet shall decide whether OPS would continue as party treasurer or not.
OPS took the fight to the Election Commission blaming vested interests over the single leadership tussle favouring EPS, after asserting that today"s meeting of top AIADMK functionaries was not valid.
In a memorandum to EC, Panneerselvam said amendments were made to party bylaws on December 1, 2021.
Such tweaking made it clear that the Coordinator (OPS) and Joint Coordinator (EPS), the apex party leadership, could be elected only by primary members.
Subsequently, they were elected unopposed and the tenure of the posts is 5 years.
Panneerselvam, returning here from his native Theni District and after holding consultations with his supporters wrote to the poll panel.
Without any discussion, AIADMK"s C Ve Shanmugam announced that all the 23 proposed resolutions were rejected in the June 23 General Council meet and a demand was made in respect of single leadership, he said.
The first resolution was related to the unanimous election of Coordinator and Joint Coordinator and organisation polls held in the party.
OPS said he the party treasurer was not permitted to present the statement of accounts during the June 23 General Council meet.
He said the proposed July 11 GC meet was without authority.
Panneerselvam had earlier said that the June 27 meeting, its decisions are not binding on functionaries and cadres since he, the Coordinator, has not convened it along with Co-Coordinator Palaniswami as per by-laws, the EPS camp countered it, saying the meet is legitimate, a pointer to continuing bickering in Tamil Nadu"s principal opposition AIADMK over who should steer the party.
Asked why Panneerselvam"s name was removed from the founders" column on the masthead of party mouthpiece (Tamil daily-Namadhu Amma), senior leader D Jayakumar hit out at OPS saying he is a "symbol of betrayal." Panneerselvam betrayed the party"s interests, he alleged.
"That is why his name is not featured in Namadhu Amma," Jayakumar, a former Minister and party"s organisation secretary told reporters.
Briefing media on deliberations in today"s top office-bearers meet, he said Panneerselvam"s son and Theni MP Ravindhranath had lauded Chief Minister M K Stalin.
Ravindhranath had said that Stalin worked with dedication, Jayakumar said and asked if AIADMK workers would accept such remarks.
"There are more examples," he said to support his arguments against OPS.
Asked if OPS would continue to be the party"s treasurer, he said that only the July 11 General Council could provide the answer.
"Whether or not he will continue as treasurer will be decided by the GC." The meeting deliberated and has taken key decisions vis-a-vis the GC and such decisions are "strictly confidential", Jayakumar said amid speculations that OPS may be relieved of his post of party treasurer.
On the validity of the meet and OPS"s remark in this regard, Jayakumar said that the meet was convened by Presidium Chairman Tamilmagan Hussain based on the request of state-level office-bearers to Headquarters Secretary Palaniswami.