As expected, two of the three factions within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam or AIADMK party came together, expelling former chief VK Sasikala and installing former chief minister O Paneerselvam as the new ‘chief co-ordinator’.
The leader of the second faction and current chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswami has been made the deputy chief coordinator. Paneerselvam is the deputy chief minister of the state.
Neither of them have been made the general secretary, the position that was occupied by J Jayalalitha. Instead, the position has been made a ceremonial one.
Today’s general council meeting has also nullified appointments made by TTV Dinakaran, the nephew of VK Sasikala, raising the likelihood that the state may see elections soon.
Dinakaran has threatened that if he is expelled from the party or from his position as the deputy general secretary, he will bring the government down.
Dinakaran is estimated to enjoy the support of around 19 MLAs, who can push the government into a minority by pulling their support in the state legislature.
C Rajasekaran, part of the Dinakaran camp loyal to Sasikala, responded to the development by questioning the right of the general council to appoint Jayalalitha as the ‘eternal general secretary’ of the party.
“According to the bylaws of the party, the general secretary can only be elected by the primary members of the party,” he said. “All that these people have done is null and void in legal terms,” he said.
The DMK alleged that the governor is illegally allowing the current government to continue even though it does not enjoy majority in the legislature.