Dual leadership over, Panneerselvam ceases to be coordinator: AIADMK
India Today
AIADMK leader CV Shanmugam said that there is no more dual leadership in the party and OPS has ceased to be the coordinator after the general council meeting ended without adopting any resolutions.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader CV Shanmugam on Friday said that senior leader O Panneerselvam (OPS), who openly opposed the idea of a single leadership, has ceased to be the coordinator of the party.
The general council meeting which was meant to adopt several resolutions on June 23 ended in ruckus with bottles being hurled at OPS by council members. Several senior leaders and MLAs have backed former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami who is leading the charge for making AIADMK a party led by a single leader. Since 2017, the party has dual leadership, with OPS acting as the coordinator and EPS, the co-coordinator.
"O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami have ceased to be AIADMK coordinator and co-coordinator of the party since the amended bylaw that led to their election last December was not approved by the general council on June 23," Shanmugam said.
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"Panneerselvam is only the treasurer of AIADMK and Edappadi K Palaniswami is the headquarters secretary of the party," added Shanmugham during the pressmeet where he was seen along with other senior AIADMK leaders like SP Velumani, D Jayakumar, C Vijayabaskar and others.
Dismissing the claim that the call for a special general council meeting is invalid without OPS' consent, Shanmugam said, "As per the party bylaw, 1/5th of general council members can seek a special meeting. Upon such demand, a special council meeting has to be convened within 30 days. Since the posts of coordinator and co-coordinator no longer exist, the presidium chairman can convene. So, the July 11 meeting stands valid."
Also reacting to CM MK Stalin's remark mocking the leadership crisis in AIADMK, he added, "Dont rejoice too much CM, your turn will also come soon and we will also make similar remarks. We are also going to see what is going to happen in your party when you crown Udhayanidhi and when you crown Inbanidhi [Udayanidhi's son]."
