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In Delhi, AIADMK MPs side with Sasikala, Panneerselvam sidelined
After Chennai, O Pannerselvam’s camp is now marginalised in Delhi as well.
After Chennai, O Pannerselvam’s camp is now marginalised in Delhi as well.
On Thursday, the OPS camp decided to go knock the doors of the Election Commission to challenge the appointment of Sasikala as interim general secretary of the party. They also stressed that her appointing E Palaniswami as party chief was, therefore, illegal as well.
But out of 50 MPs of the AIADMK, only 10 lawmakers turned out at the EC headquarters at Ashoka Road here.
AIADMK is the largest party in Lok Sabha after the BJP and the Congress. It has 37 MPs in the Lower House and 10 members in the Upper House.
These MPs led by Dr V Maityeyan asserted that there is no provision of picking an interim general secretary in the party constitution and therefore Sasikala's appointment was not valid. They underlined that all appointments made by her are also illegal, by virtue of her not being elected constitutionally.
Read: Here is how Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami will impact BJP, Delhi
After being convicted in the disproportionate assets case, Sasikala chose Palaniswami as the party chief and nominated him for the chief minister's position, which Panneerselvam has also been staking claim to.
EC sources said the MPs --eight from Lok Sabha and two from the Rajya Sabha-- gave a representation to the poll panel.
Read: What we’re witnessing now is the beginning of the AIADMK’s end
Even as the EC will now forward the representation to the AIADMK for its response, the rebel MPs are likely to face action from within the party.
The EC has already received a complaint against Sasikala's appointment as interim general secretary from the now expelled RS member Sasikala Pushpa. The commission had sought a copy of the party constitution in English from the AIADMK and had also said the party to respond.
It has however not issued any time frame for the party to respond.
