Last Update: March 18, 2023, 2:12 pm IST
(RL) AIADMK leaders Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) and O Panneerselvam (OPS). (File photo/News18)
EPS, as Palaniswami is addressed, filed his nomination at the party headquarters, nearly a month after the Supreme Court cleared his continuation as AIADMK interim chief
AIADMK interim chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Saturday filed nomination for election to the party’s powerful general secretary post, setting the ball rolling for his eventual elevation, as rival leader O Panneerselvan accused the EPS camp of “pocket-racing”. Criticized the approach. Party procedure was not followed alleging that elections were held.
EPS, as Palaniswami is addressed, filed his nomination at the party headquarters, nearly a month after the Supreme Court cleared his continuance as the interim chief of the AIADMK, replacing Panneerselvam (OPS) as the leader. The setback resulted in an ongoing feud with his rival over the issue. ,
The OPS camp condemned the election process and senior party leader Panruti S. Ramachandran said they would move court over the issue, even as Panneerselvam indicated he would meet people on the matter. He said that as a next step, a big convention would be held in Tiruchirappalli in early April.
Within hours of Palaniswami filing his nomination, Panneerselvam addressed a press conference, alleging that the election process was not in line with party laws.
Organizational elections are held once in five years and the highest offices are elected by the primary members. Only the elected General Secretary can subsequently hold organizational elections and appoint office bearers. Also during this period membership form has to be given for inducting new members and renewing the membership of existing members, after which identity card has to be given for both.
“Only after the completion of these procedures will the election for the top post take place. There is no proper process and they want to conduct the election for the post of general secretary like pickpockets…is this acceptable?’
The Palaniswami-led AIADMK had earlier announced the election schedule for the post of general secretary, announcing that the elections would be held on March 23.
Palaniswami’s election is expected to be unanimous as the party is rallying behind him, as manifested in the General Council of July 11, 2022, where OPS and some of his allies were expelled. The GC proposals have been challenged in the Madras High Court by the OPS camp.
The OPS also took aim at his rival over his leadership abilities, pointing to various electoral losses since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, including the recent Erode (East) by-election, where the ruling coalition led by the DMK The candidate, EVKS Elangovan of the Congress, pipped Palaniswami’s choice KS. Thennarasu by over 66,000 votes. PTI SA SA SS
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)