AIADMK affairs: Sasikala expelled, OPS-EPS factions take control

The jailed leader, who aspired to take the mantle of the departed party icon J Jayalalithaa as the undisputed supremo starting off a series of events that rocked the organisation, was first stripped of all posts of the party and then expelled.

However, the decision is set to prompt the Sasikala faction, led by Dinakaran, withdraw support to the government and call for a floor test to prove its majority.

Adopting a resolution at a crucial general council meeting, the party said that former Tamil Nadu chief minister late J Jayalalithaa will be the ‘eternal’ General Secretary and the post of interim General Secretary stands abolished.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, party leader R B Udaykumar said, “Temporary General Secretary post stands forfeited. Sasikala is expelled. Jayalalithaa will be eternal general secretary of the party.”

According to reports, O Panneerselvam has been made the head of the coordination committee while Chief Minister E Palaniswamy is the co-coordinator of the party and all powers have been given to them.

Reading out from the resolution, Udaykumar also said that the two factions of AIADMK will be merged.

“AIADMK to be a unified faction and we will retrieve ‘two leaves’ party symbol,” he said. He further added: “All those appointed by Amma (Jayalalithaa) as office bearers will continue.”

On the status regarding sidelined deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran, Udaykumar said: “All announcements of TTV Dinakaran are not binding on the party.”

The General Council meeting  was the first held by the decision-making body after the unification of the two major camps,  led by CM Palaniswami and former CM Pannerselvam.

The announcement came a day after Madras High Court dismissed a petition by an MLA from Dinakaran faction, seeking a stay on Tuesday’s General Council meeting.

Pro-Sasikala leaders, headed by Dinakaran had  earlier warned that removing her will result in a floor test in the Assembly and the defeat of the present Government which falls short of an absolute majority without the support of the Sasikala loyalists.

Reacting to the meeting's decision, Dinakaran said,  "This is the betrayal of Chinaamma (Sasikala). The man who was made  the CM by Sasikala has betrayed us."

He also said  that the government has lost the trust of the people of Tamil Nadu so the chief minister needs and his council of minister needs to resign.

Sasikala was convicted for indulging in corruption, but she held for long the leash of the organisation even from behind the bars till the quirky politics united the warring factions led by O Paneerselvam, her bete noire and E Palaniswami, the man she handpicked as Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister.

The decisions of the meeting are, however, subject to the approval of the Madras High Court.

The meeting was reportedly attended by about 90 per cent council members, who ratified the merger of the two major factions, which had been on dagger drawn at each other for long.

The expulsion of VK Sasikala was one of the key demands of the faction led by Jayalalithaa loyalist O Paneerselvam,  who had rebelled earlier this year after VK Sasikala forced him to step down as Chief Minister, which he assumed after the death of Jaylalitha.