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VIEW PICS | AIADMK factional feud: Party HQ sealed after clashes; General Council elects EPS as interim general secretary while OPS sacked

It was a day of high drama and tension for Tamil Nadu's principal opposition party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party. Bringing dual leadership in the party to an end, the executive general council elected Edappady K Palaniswami (EPS) as its Interim General Secretary and vested in him full powers to helm the organisation, in a meeting at Vanagaram in Chennai today. The party's General Council meet also expelled rival leader O Panneerselvam (OPS) from the party's primary membership and post as treasurer. Following acts of violence by supporters of the two factions, the party headquarters in Royapettah was sealed by revenue authorities.
It was a day of high drama and tension for Tamil Nadu's principal opposition party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party. Bringing dual leadership in the party to an end, the executive general council elected Edappady K Palaniswami
It was a day of high drama and tension for Tamil Nadu's principal opposition party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party. Bringing dual leadership in the party to an end, the executive general council elected Edappady K Palaniswami
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In its Executive Committee and General Council meeting held at a marriage hall in Vanagaram, Chennai, the AIADMK endorsed scrapping the erstwhile top two positions of Coordinator and Joint Coordinator held by O Panneerselvam (OPS), and Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), respectively. Holding that the court cannot interfere in the squabbles of a political party, the Madras High Court in the morning rejected a plea from Panneerselvam to stay the conduct of the general council meeting of the party. (Photo | EPS)
In its Executive Committee and General Council meeting held at a marriage hall in Vanagaram, Chennai, the AIADMK endorsed scrapping the erstwhile top two positions of Coordinator and Joint Coordinator held by O Panneerselvam (OPS), and Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), respectively. Holding that the court cannot interfere in the squabbles of a political party, the Madras High Court in the morning rejected a plea from Panneerselvam to stay the conduct of the general council meeting of the party. (Photo | EPS)
A large open area on the premises of the Vanagaram wedding hall was tin-roofed to host the General Council meeting and accommodate about 3,000 functionaries. A grand dais, about 80 ft in length and 40 ft in breadth, was set up, too. Entry control equipment like flap barriers and turnstiles was kept ready to allow only authorised functionaries with access cards, seen as a first in Tamil Nadu by any political party. (Photo | EPS)
A large open area on the premises of the Vanagaram wedding hall was tin-roofed to host the General Council meeting and accommodate about 3,000 functionaries. A grand dais, about 80 ft in length and 40 ft in breadth, was set up, too. Entry control equipment like flap barriers and turnstiles was kept ready to allow only authorised functionaries with access cards, seen as a first in Tamil Nadu by any political party. (Photo | EPS)
Since June, the AIADMK has been witnessing serious intra-party wrangling over the issue of single leadership and Edappadi K Palaniswami has the support of an overwhelming majority and O Panneerselvam has been sidelined in the party. After the demise of Jayalalithaa in 2016, the party has been following a dual-leadership formula with EPS as co-coordinator and OPS as coordinator. (Photo | EPS)
Since June, the AIADMK has been witnessing serious intra-party wrangling over the issue of single leadership and Edappadi K Palaniswami has the support of an overwhelming majority and O Panneerselvam has been sidelined in the party. After the demise of Jayalalithaa in 2016, the party has been following a dual-leadership formula with EPS as co-coordinator and OPS as coordinator. (Photo | EPS)
Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy who rejected a plea from O Panneerselvam to stay the conduct of the party's general council meeting said today, 'In a democratic set-up, the will of the majority has to prevail. The general rule states that during a difference among members, the majority decides the issue. If the majority exercises its powers in the matters of a party/organisation's internal administration, then the courts will not interfere into the wisdom of the majority.' The verdict allowed the EPS faction to hold the GC meet, the supreme decision making body of the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu. (Photo | EPS)
Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy who rejected a plea from O Panneerselvam to stay the conduct of the party's general council meeting said today, 'In a democratic set-up, the will of the majority has to prevail. The general rule states that during a difference among members, the majority decides the issue. If the majority exercises its powers in the matters of a party/organisation's internal administration, then the courts will not interfere into the wisdom of the majority.' The verdict allowed the EPS faction to hold the GC meet, the supreme decision making body of the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu. (Photo | EPS)
Minutes after getting the green signal from the Madras HC, AIADMK's General Council meeting was convened in Vanagaram around 9:15 am. On expected lines, Edappadi K Palaniswami (in pic) was elected as the party's Interim General Secretary. The Council has vested in him full powers to helm the organisation. On the other hand, accusing Panneerselvam of siding with the DMK regime, and of acting against the party's interests and goals, the Council expelled him from the party's primary membership and his post of treasurer. A defiant OPS said his rival EPS had no right to show him the door and said he would seek justice. (Photo | EPS)
Minutes after getting the green signal from the Madras HC, AIADMK's General Council meeting was convened in Vanagaram around 9:15 am. On expected lines, Edappadi K Palaniswami (in pic) was elected as the party's Interim General Secretary. The Council has vested in him full powers to helm the organisation. On the other hand, accusing Panneerselvam of siding with the DMK regime, and of acting against the party's interests and goals, the Council expelled him from the party's primary membership and his post of treasurer. A defiant OPS said his rival EPS had no right to show him the door and said he would seek justice. (Photo | EPS)
Edappadi K Palaniswami seen at the AIADMK General Council meeting at Vanagaram, in Chennai, on July 11, 2022. (Photo | R Satish Babu, EPS)
Edappadi K Palaniswami seen at the AIADMK General Council meeting at Vanagaram, in Chennai, on July 11, 2022. (Photo | R Satish Babu, EPS)
In his address after his appointment as AIADMK's Interim General Secretary, Edappadi K Palaniswami openly slammed Panneerselvam as the 'stooge' of ruling DMK and blamed him for the violence and said OPS has taken away records from party office and the office chamber used by late party supremo J Jayalalithaa was broken open. (Photo | PTI)
In his address after his appointment as AIADMK's Interim General Secretary, Edappadi K Palaniswami openly slammed Panneerselvam as the 'stooge' of ruling DMK and blamed him for the violence and said OPS has taken away records from party office and the office chamber used by late party supremo J Jayalalithaa was broken open. (Photo | PTI)
O Panneerselvam stayed a dharna (protest) along with his supporters at the party's headquarters in Royapettah. Outside the office, clashes between his supporters and those of EPS ensued. OPS' supporters broke the party office gate lock and entered the office, broke its front door, and reportedly took away party-related material. (Photo | PTI)
O Panneerselvam stayed a dharna (protest) along with his supporters at the party's headquarters in Royapettah. Outside the office, clashes between his supporters and those of EPS ensued. OPS' supporters broke the party office gate lock and entered the office, broke its front door, and reportedly took away party-related material. (Photo | PTI)
OPS supporter, Kolathur District Secretary, Krishnamurthy got hit by a stone thrown by EPS supporters at the party headquarters. Posters were burnt, stones were thrown, and vehicles were damaged by party supporters. (Photo | PTI)
OPS supporter, Kolathur District Secretary, Krishnamurthy got hit by a stone thrown by EPS supporters at the party headquarters. Posters were burnt, stones were thrown, and vehicles were damaged by party supporters. (Photo | PTI)
In the wake of the violence, the revenue department of the Tamil Nadu government sealed the headquarters at Royapettah. (Photo | EPS)
In the wake of the violence, the revenue department of the Tamil Nadu government sealed the headquarters at Royapettah. (Photo | EPS)
Some of the key highlights in the 16 resolutions adopted by the AIADMK in its General Council meeting at a wedding hall in Vanagaram (in pic) today are as follows: The AIADMK passed a resolution to terminate the posts of coordinator and joint-coordinator. The post of General Secretary has been revived, for which primary members of the party will vote for in fresh elections that will be held within four months. A post of Deputy General Secretary has now been created. (Photo | EPS)
Some of the key highlights in the 16 resolutions adopted by the AIADMK in its General Council meeting at a wedding hall in Vanagaram (in pic) today are as follows: The AIADMK passed a resolution to terminate the posts of coordinator and joint-coordinator. The post of General Secretary has been revived, for which primary members of the party will vote for in fresh elections that will be held within four months. A post of Deputy General Secretary has now been created. (Photo | EPS)
AIADMK
O Panneerselvam
Edappadi K Palaniswami
Tamil Nadu politics
EPS
AIADMK leadership
Vanagaram
AIADMK General Council

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