E-Paper
AIADMK split to trigger battle for party properties in Tamil Nadu
Claiming to be the real AIADMK after he was expelled from the primary membership of the party by general secretary VK Sasikala, Madhusudanan questioned her authority.
With the party split down the middle, AIADMK presidium chairman E Madhusudanan and AIADMK legal wing chief Durai Pandian have declared that they will move all the appropriate authorities to protect the party and its properties too.
Claiming to be the real AIADMK after he was expelled from the primary membership of the party by general secretary VK Sasikala, Madhusudanan questioned her authority.
“This is the real AIADMK, and it is our prerogative when and who we will be selected as our general secretary,” he said.
“I have already expelled her.” Madhusudanan said, adding that a process to elect a new general secretary will be announced soon.
Read | Tamil Nadu is in turmoil because AIADMK has no leadership succession policy
It is not just the legacy of MGR and Amma and the government at stake, the question is as to who will control the properties of the party and funds. Chief minister O Panneerselvam, who has been removed from the post of the treasurer by Sasikala, hit back by freezing party funds.
According to the party’s audited accounts filed with the Election Commission, the assets of the AIADMK is worth Rs 224 crore.
Madhusudanan has already moved the Election Commission asking it not to accept Sasikala’s election as general secretary as none of the procedures were followed in the process. Her appointment itself is not valid and as a consequence all the decisions she has taken as party official are invalid, the top party leader said.
Panneerselvam has already written to the Bank of India branch, where the AIADMK operates its account from, not to allow transactions without his consent as he is the legal treasurer of the party. Likewise, moves will be made to safeguard the party assets too and legal steps will be taken at appropriate forums, said a senior leader, but added that “the stage for that has not come yet.”
Read | Setback for Sasikala as AIADMK’s Pandiarajan, two MPs join Panneerselvam camp
