Forty five of the 50 district secretaries belonging to two factions of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam — Amma and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma (PTA) — attended a meeting chaired by E. Madhusudanan, the party’s presidium chairman on September 5. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, headquarters secretary of the AIADMK (Amma) and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, who was treasurer of the undivided AIADMK and leader of the AIADMK (PTA) participated in the meeting held at the party headquarters in Chennai.
Those district-level functionaries who did not make it to the meeting were P. Vetrivel (North Chennai), Thangatamilselvan (Theni), V.P. Kalairajan (South Chennai – North); M. Rengasamy (Thanjavur North) and N.G. Parthiban (Vellore East), all of whom are with the T.T.V. Dhinakaran camp. Except Mr. Kalairajan, all others are MLAs too.
Asked whether any resolution would be adopted against jailed interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala at the proposed general council meeting, Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar, who briefed the press of the discussion at the day’s meeting, told the media that it would not be proper to comment on the issue at the present juncture.
Asked for reaction to Mr. Dhinakaran’s statement that legal proceedings would be initiated against those who would attend the general council, the Minister described it as “wrong and ridiculous”.
111 MLAs attend meeting convened by Palaniswami
Earlier in the day, 111 MLAs of the party attended a meeting convened by Mr. Palaniswami.
Mr. Jayakumar told reporters in Chennai that as many as 111 MLAs reposed their faith in the Chief Minister at the meeting.
The development is being considered as a boost to Mr. Palaniswami, whose earlier meeting on August 28 reportedly witnessed a much less attendance with some claiming that only 75 MLAs were present.
Mr. Jayakumar said the MLAs had “wholeheartedly extended their full cooperation” to the Chief Minister and an unanimous resolution was adopted reposing faith in his leadership.
He also claimed that nine MLAs of the Dhinakaran camp had contacted Mr. Palaniswami over phone and extended their support to him. Also, three MLAs who are allies of the ruling party had promised their support to Mr. Palaniswami, he added.
Peravurani MLA M. Govindarasu had intimated that he would not be able to attend the meet as he was indisposed, Mr. Jayakumar said.
He alleged that some legislators had been “illegally confined against their wishes” (at Puducherry) and asserted that the meet signalled the dashing of hopes of those who wanted to “thrust” an election on the people.
The AIADMK has 134 MLAs in the 234-member State Assembly with one vacancy.
(With inputs from PTI)