KOCHI: In a dramatic twist in the ongoing crisis within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), actor Shwetha Menon on Thursday declared that she continues to be the organisation's president, challenging the legitimacy of the ad hoc committee constituted after the annual general body meeting on June 21.
In a lengthy statement posted on social media, Shwetha said she had remained silent "for the sake of AMMA" but could no longer do so while her reputation was being "targeted and tarnished." She maintained that neither she nor her executive committee had abandoned the organisation.
"As per AMMA's bylaws, there can only be one committee, and that is our committee, which should continue until the next election is conducted and a new committee is formed," she said, adding that any ad hoc committee claiming authority was "illegitimate" and was misleading AMMA members.
The statement marks a reversal from the events of June 21, when Shwetha Menon and the 17-member executive committee led by her resigned following heated exchanges at AMMA's annual general body meeting.
The marathon meeting witnessed sharp disagreements over the adoption of the annual report and statement of accounts, exposing simmering factional tensions within the actors' body.
Shwetha now claims that a group of 10-15 members attended the meeting with a "pre-planned agenda" to force the executive committee's resignation.
According to her, a pre-printed resolution was circulated but failed to secure the two-thirds majority required under AMMA's bylaws. She said only 243 members were present, meaning the resolution required the support of at least 162 members to be legally valid.
Questioning the authority of the new arrangement, Shwetha asked where the AMMA bylaws provided for an ad hoc committee and how such a body could be constituted without any legal basis.
She argued that when a previous committee led by actor Mohanlal had resigned, the elected committee continued until fresh elections were held.
Shwetha also sought to reassure members that AMMA's welfare activities had continued uninterrupted since the annual general body meeting. According to her, financial assistance due on July 1 had been disbursed on time, while schemes such as Sanjeevini and the medical insurance programme remained operational.
In one of the strongest remarks in her statement, she accused certain "vested interests" and "accused persons" of trying to "hijack AMMA" by exploiting her silence.
"I will not allow anyone to hijack AMMA," she said.
