Followers of both Palaniswami (EPS) and Panneerselvam (OPS) were engaged in previous talks to garner the support of party functionaries for their respective leaders, also talks to resolve the dispute ahead of the general council meeting on June 23 continued.
The EPS, who attended several events in Tiruvannamalai district, was accorded a rousing welcome by his followers, with the district party unit and supporters showering petals on his car and hailing him as the ‘future general secretary’. The district witnessed huge crowds of party workers to welcome him, which was seen as a show of strength amid the ongoing leadership struggle.
The posters addressed the EPS as ‘party general secretary’, the last being held by party supremo J Jayalalithaa, who passed away in 2016. Later, the party declared him a permanent general secretary and created a top dual leadership structure, which is now being challenged. Supporters of EPS.
Addressing a gathering at Polur in Tiruvannamalai, former Agriculture Minister SS Krishnamurthy described the EPS as the “single leadership” of the AIADMK, while Palaniswami stood by him on the dais. However, EPS did not make any specific mention of the issue and was accorded a grand welcome by his supporters in other areas including Ranipet.
Meanwhile, party veteran and former Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha M Thambidurai met Panneerselvam here reportedly with a ‘plan’ to resolve the unitary leadership issue after consultations with Palaniswami.
Leaders including deputy coordinator KP Munusamy have had similar discussions with EPS. Kongu Ilignar Pervai leader U Thaniyarasu has expressed his support for the OPS.
On June 14, office-bearers of the EPS camp demanded that the party be led by a single leader as part of efforts to strengthen the party. Obviously, his choice was EPS.
On Thursday, the OPS clarified that it was not in favor of the proposal and said that no resolution can be brought in the party meeting without the consent of the top two leaders – him and his ally EPS.
Asked whether party office-bearers were supposed to raise the issue of ‘single leadership’ in the general council meeting, AIADMK leader R Vaithilingam (now in the OPS camp) told reporters that the top two leaders, Panneerselvam and Palaniswami, both needed to be part of the party. was elected by the primary members.
“It cannot be canceled by bringing a resolution (in favor of single leadership) in the general council meeting,” he said. He said such a move would not only be invalid, but it would also lead the party to destruction.
Former minister Vaithilingam said the consent of both the coordinator and the coordinator is necessary to move any proposal. If any matter is raised in the absence of the approval of both, it will be invalid.