In AIADMK Leadership Tussle, Team EPS To File Counter In High Court Today

OPS is fighting against attempts by EPS faction to junk the dual leadership system and bring back the post of one supreme General Secretary for AIADMK

The Madras High Court will continue hearing arguments today over the petition filed by AIADMK Coordinator O Panneerselvam (OPS) to stall the party's General Council Meet on Monday to formally crown his rival Edappadi Palaniswamy (EPS) as Interim General Secretary. After hearing arguments by the counsel for OPS, EPS and another petitioner, the court has asked EPS' advocate to file his counter today. 

Though, on Wednesday, the Supreme Court had permitted Team EPS to go ahead with the meet following the law, Team OPS argued the conduct of the meeting is technically illegal and hence invalid. His lawyer claimed that according to the bylaw, only the Coordinator and Joint Coordinator can convene the meeting but in this case the invitation letter on an "non-existent headquarters office bearers letterhead" was unsigned. Also, in the event of the positions of Coordinator and Joint Coordinator going vacant for some reason, the office bearers appointed by them including the Treasurer (OPS in this case), Headquarters Secretary (EPS in this case) and the Executive Committee ought to continue to operate but, the invite doesn't mention any of these names.

Arguing strongly against stalling the meet despite the nod given by the top court, EPS' counsel claimed it is the same system that was followed by the party to appoint VK Sasikala as Interim General Secretary of the party after former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's death; also to appoint the duo as part of a dual leadership model later. Regarding the agenda for the meet, he made it clear that the present dual leadership would be abolished and an interim general secretary would be appointed, who would be in charge till internal elections are held. The bylaw would also be amended for this.

The June 23rd meet 'rejected' all 23 draft resolutions the party boss OPS had approved. One of them was to ratify the election of the two leaders last December and the rejection meant Team EPS claims the dual leadership is no longer there.