OPS and EPS supporters clash violently for ADMK control after court order
Vibha Sharma
New Delhi, July 11
Ahead of the crucial General Council (GC) meeting on Monday to decide the future leadership structure of the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (AIADMK), factions of Edappadi K Palanisawmy (EPS) and O Pannerselvam (OPS) clashed outside the party headquarters in Chennai after the court’s order.
The Madras high court on Monday refused to stall the general council meeting of the AIADMK scheduled to commence at 9.15 am.
EPS and OPS groups hurled stones at each other outside the party office.
OPS, who has been facing waning support, entered the headquarters with scores of followers and laid flower wreaths under statues of MGR and J Jayalalithaa.
The BJP ally has been struggling with widening differences in its top leadership amid the demand of “singular leadership” in the party for a while now.
The two sides are also divided on caste lines.
Newly elected AIADMK presidium chairman Tamil Magan Hussain had on June 23 announced another general council on July 11 to discuss the issue — abolishing dual-leadership by law, a demand raised by the faction led by Edappadi K Palaniswamy (EPS).
AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam (OPS) and his supporters, however, favour “dual leadership”.
The majority appear to be in favour of EPS.
Notably, OPS supporters were abused and attacked by those owing allegiance to EPS in the last GC meeting
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also mocked AIADMK saying that “those who wanted to decimate his party (DMK) have now been wiped out”.
If the bylaws get amended, EPS could be elected as the party’s general secretary.
After the death of J Jayalalitha, the post of general secretary was abolished and OPS named the coordinator and EPS the joint coordinator.
Simmering under-the-surface for a while now, the division between the two groups re-ignited and came into the open around the time of the announcement of the names for the recent Rajya Sabha elections.
Supporters of EPS, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, raised the demand for “singular leadership” at the meeting called to discuss plans for today’s GC.
The BJP, which is trying hard to be relevant in the southern state via AIADMK, is closely watching the internal developments within its ally, sources said.
Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tried to put an end to the raging debate over the “Hindi imposition”, AIADMK cadres are believed to be against the alliance with the BJP, especially after the language row.
The general feeling is that the party should approach the 2024 General Election with a clean slate.
Recently, its organisational secretary C Ponnaiyan also made open accusations against the BJP-led central government.
Jayalaithaa’s long-time confidant VK Sasikala is also making the most of the division, taking on the current leadership for being a “weak opposition” to the ruling DMK.
