New Delhi, August 25, 2023: The Madras High Court, on Friday, upheld the expulsion of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), led by Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS).
A bench of justices R Mahadevan and Mohammed Shaffiq dismissed appeals filed by OPS and three of his supporters against a previous single judge bench’s decision not to interfere with AIADMK’s general council resolutions, including the expulsion of OPS on July 11 last year. The resolutions also involved abolishing dual leadership and elevating EPS as AIADMK’s unitary leader.
EPS, in response to the verdict, stated, “The AIADMK will never accept people who are against the party. Our win will be big in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.”
The AIADMK celebrated the court’s decision with workers bursting crackers and distributing sweets at the party headquarters.
In April, the Election Commission of India recognized EPS as AIADMK’s general secretary and allotted his faction of the party’s two leaves symbol.
The Supreme Court previously upheld the high court’s order in September last year, allowing EPS to remain AIADMK’s interim general secretary.
The internal power struggle within AIADMK began in July 2022 when the general council named EPS as the sole leader, removing OPS from the joint coordinator’s position. EPS emerged victorious in the leadership battle after the Madras High Court rejected OPS’s plea to halt the party’s general council meeting. This marked the end of five-and-a-half years of hyphenated leadership within the party.
OPS, a three-time acting chief minister of the state, faced expulsion from the party and was replaced by Dindigul Srinivasan. The dual leadership model had been criticized by a majority of AIADMK’s leadership.
The removal of OPS also sparked clashes between supporters of the two leaders at the AIADMK headquarters, leading to the sealing of the building.
OPS has been accused of aligning with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party and showing leniency towards VK Sasikala, a close associate of Jayalalithaa.
The verdict reaffirms the evolving dynamics within AIADMK, as it solidifies its leadership structure and prepares for upcoming electoral challenges.
