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Amid the infighting within the All India Anna Dravid Munnetra Kazgham (AIADMK), former chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami was elected as the interim general secretary of the party on Monday, 11 July, after the party revived the post of general secretary and terminated dual leadership.
Soon after the announcement, the executive council members passed a resolution and expelled O Pannerselvam and his supporters from the party.
The party has changed its display picture on Twitter to one with only EPS in it.
EPS has also formally submitted the amended AIADMK Party Constitution in the General Council meet to ECI.
Earlier in the morning, the Madras High Court allowed the AIADMK party's general council meeting to be held at 9 am, rejecting OPS' plea. The court said that the will of the majority has to prevail and thus, it will not interfere.
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
OPS' supporters R Vaithilingam, JCD Prabhakar, and PH Manoj Pandian too have been expelled from the AIADMK
OPS sharply retorted saying, "Edappadi Palaniswami and KP Munusamy have acted against the law and so I announce that they have been expelled from the primary membership of the party."
OPS said that he will challenge this decision and appeal to the higher court
The elections for the post of the general secretary will be held within four months
Ahead of the meeting, factions of EPS and OPS clashed outside the party headquarters, leading to lathi-charge by the police
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Police resorted to lathi-charge as AIADMK cadre clashed outside the party office ahead of the meet to do away with dual leadership. Supporters of O Pennerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami pelted stones at each other.
The Madras High Court allowed the AIADMK party's general council meeting to be held at 9 am, rejecting OPS' plea. The verdict was pronounced on Monday morning, stating that the will of the majority has to prevail and thus, the court will not interfere.
The party revived the post of general secretary and terminated dual leadership. The election for the post will be held within four months.
Former Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami elected as the interim general secretary of the AIADMK from the power centre of the party.
The executive council members adopt a resolution to expel OPS from the party. OPS' supporters R Vaithilingam, JCD Prabhakar, and PH Manoj Pandian too have been expelled.
The executive council members pass a resolution to expel OPS from the party. OPS' supporters R Vaithilingam, JCD Prabhakar, and PH Manoj Pandian too have been expelled.
Speaking to the media, O Pannerselvam said: "Edappadi Palaniswami and KP Munusamy have acted against the law, so I announce that they have been expelled from the primary membership of the party."
Speaking to the media, O Pannerselvam said that his expulsion from the party is illegal and he will challenge the decision in court.
"I have been elected by 1.5 crore cadres of our party. As per the law, we will challenge it in court. I will meet the cadres and seek justice," he said.
EPS declared Dindigul Srinivasan as the new AIADMK treasure, the post which was held by O Pannerselvam before he was removed from the party.
Addressing the party workers, E Palaniswami accused O Pannerselvam of colluding with the DMK and creating unrest outside the party headquarters.
"OPS tied up with anti-social elements and broke the door of AIADMK headquarters. OPS also stole documents and laptops," EPS said, adding that OPS was "never to faithful to Amma J Jayalalithaa."
"The AIADMK cadred should work for the downfall of the DMK. The General Council members have unanimously passed the resolution to bring a single leadership into the party," EPS said.
O Pannerselvam staged a sit-in protest outside AIADMK headquarters as cops tried to clear the area.
Revenue officials sealed the AIADMK headquarters after a clash between EPS and OPS cadres ensued earlier in the day. The officials sealed the property citing it as a 'disputed ' property.
Section 145 (Procedure where dispute concerning land or water is likely to cause breach of peace) and Section 146 (power to attach subject of dispute and to appoint receiver) of CrPC apart from Section 144 () of Chennai City Police Act promulgated at the AIADMK headquarters in Chennai's Royapettah.
Here are the key decisions and resolutions adopted by the General Council members meet:
Bharat Ratna award for late chief minister J Jayalalithaa
Coordinator and deputy coordinator posts scrapped
Post of interim general secretary created
General council members urged to elect AIADMK'S general secretary within four months
The ruling DMK government condemned for scraping AIADMK schemes
DMK government slammed for failing to control the sky rocketing prices of essential commodities
AIADMK urges both State and centre to stop Karnataka's proposal to construct Mekadatu dam along Cauvery river
Tamil Nadu government should work for the welfare of Tamil people living in Sri Lanka
Urge DMK to fulfil all poll promises
DMK government failing to solve law and order issues
Addressing the party, E Palaniswami said that the Tamil Nadu police did not provide protection to the party headquarters despite asking for it.
"We had sought protection for party headquarters. Despite our complaint, the police didn't give protection. Today, CM MK Stalin and OPS together planned to destroy the AIADMK office. We strongly condemn this," he said.
Expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala slammed the ouster of O Pannerselvam from the AIADMK.
"When his (EPS') appointment as interim General Secretary itself is under question, how can he remove OPS? The cadre will give a befitting reply for taking away the ‘permanent AIADMK General Secretary’ post from Amma," she said.
Dr S Ramadoss, founder of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), congratulated EPS and said in a tweet, "I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to the Leader of the Opposition Edappadi Palanichamy EPS who has been elected as the Interim General Secretary of the party at the AIADMK general meeting held in Chennai! #AIADMK" (sic).
AIADMK cadre remove photo of OPS from Coimbatore office. They also raised slogans against OPS and tore photos of him outside the party office.
An EPS convoy was stopped midway near Koyambedu bridge as cadres thronged around the vehicle. Two ambulances were caught up until the cadre managed to clear traffic.
The party has changed its display pictures on Twitter to one with only EPS in it.
Stating that Monday's General Council meeting was held for "personal interest", expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala said, "The general council meeting held today is definitely invalid because such events should not be held when the case filed by me in the High Court is pending."
She said that former Tamil Nadu CM MGR had started a separate party because of the wrong situation in DMK.
"The same situation should not happen to anyone in the party he started. He created a situation where General Secretary should be elected by the grassroots workers, now they're not working in that way," she was quoted as saying by ANI.
AIADMK leader and former CM Edappadi K Palaniswami paid floral tribute at the MGR memorial and to former CM J Jayalalithaa at Jaya Memorial in Chennai.
Speaking on the clash, EPS said, "Our party cadre gave a complaint at Royapettah Police Station that anti-social elements might enter Party HQ and they asked for protection. Ex-Min D Jayakumar also gave a complaint to Chennai Commissioner to provide security to Party HQ. It's proved that our info was true."
He added that the Royapettah police and Commissioner's office did not take steps to provide proper security to the party headquarters.
Published: 11 Jul 2022,01:46 PM IST