CHENNAI: The general council meeting of the AIADMK is likely to be convened soon to elect the party’s next general secretary following the demise of J Jayalalithaa, who had held the post. Sources said the meeting could take place in the third week of this month.
According to the directives of the Election Commission, the general council has to meet once in a year and the executive committee once in six months. While the last general council and executive committee meeting were held on December 31, 2015, the last meeting of the executive committee took place on June 18, in the presence of Jayalalithaa.
Meanwhile, there are differing opinions in Puducherry on electing the new general secretary. Om Sakthi Sekar, former MLA had gone on record saying that as all AIADMK cadre used to address Jayalalithaa as the ‘permanent general secretary’, that post should remain vacant as a mark of respect for the late leader. However, Anbazhagan, secretary of Puducherry unit, said the party cadre would welcome N Sasikala as the next general secretary.
The State secretariat remained silent on Thursday too as the seven-day mourning for Jayalalithaa’s death was continuing. However, nearly 10 ministers, including the Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had talks with N Sasikala at Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence. The discussions lasted nearly two-and -a-half hours.