Chennai: The Madras high court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a suit filed by O Panneerselvam (OPS) challenging AIADMK’s resolutions passed on July 11 last year which had expelled him and elected Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) as the interim general secretary. OPS sought a stay on the elections called for the post of general secretary.
Justice K Kumaresh Babu held a special hearing on Wednesday since courts were on leave on account of Telugu new year Ugadi. On Sunday too he had held a special hearing after three expelled members and OPS supporters – Manoj Panidan, R Vaithilingam and JCD Prabhakar -- sought an urgent hearing to stay the elections called for the post of general secretary on March 26. The trio have already filed independent petitions challenging their expulsion on July 11 last year during the party’s general council meeting.
On Friday, the AIADMK had called for nominations and on Saturday EPS filed its nomination papers. Going by the history of the AIADMK, the procedure is a mere formality as the majority of the party wants EPS as the general secretary and he is the only person to have filed the nomination. The general secretary is the top most position in the AIADMK previously held by party founder M G Ramachandran, his successor J Jayalalithaa.
Following her death in December 2016, V K Sasikala was interim general secretary before she was ousted from the party for OPS and EPS to join hands in the following year. So the duo made Jayalalithaa AIADMK’s ‘eternal general secretary’ in September 2017. From then on OPS was AIADMK’s coordinator and EPS its joint-coordinator. These positions were upended last July and OPS argues that his election as coordinator is valid until 2024.
{{/usCountry}}Following her death in December 2016, V K Sasikala was interim general secretary before she was ousted from the party for OPS and EPS to join hands in the following year. So the duo made Jayalalithaa AIADMK’s ‘eternal general secretary’ in September 2017. From then on OPS was AIADMK’s coordinator and EPS its joint-coordinator. These positions were upended last July and OPS argues that his election as coordinator is valid until 2024.
{{/usCountry}}The Court on Sunday had asked the AIADMK to not announce the results and ensure that the winner does not assume office for a week since the case is sub-judice and in the meanwhile the justice could hear all the related applications pending on this case.
These petitions were filed after the Supreme Court found no illegality in the general council meeting being held but OPS’ camp felt that there was no set back as the top court did not make observations on the resolutions passed during this meeting.