The ongoing battle with the rebel AMMK coupled with factional feuds has started affecting the ruling AIADMK, the third largest party in Lok Sabha. The situation is such that basic activities like convening party general council, executive committee meetings and holding internal elections are delayed, an issue that has party old-timers concerned.
Chennai:
A section of AIADMK functionaries feel that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam are more focused on running the government than attending to party-related issues.
According to AIADMK insiders, the exodus of MLAs, since disqualified by the Speaker, towards TTV Dhinakaran and his AMMK has weakened the party. Several functionaries have moved to the rival faction resulting in vacancies of existing party posts.
The issue that has bothered old-timers the most is the delay in convening the general council.
“The last GC jointly conducted by OPS and EPS ousted then AIADMK secretary V K Sasikala. Party activities have taken a back seat when compared to the days of Jayalalithaa,” rued a former AIADMK legislator.
Given the situation, there are calls to re-induct those who had deserted the party. Speaking to reporters on Friday, expelled AIADMK member K C Palanisamy, who had filed a series of petitions with the High Court and election commission against his removal, said the AIADMK should rope in all its former functionaries who had left the party due to various reasons. Some of the former AIADMK ministers like S Thirunavukkarasar, E V Velu and Muthusamy are now serving in the Congress and the DMK. Such leaders should be invited to re-join the party. This move will weaken the Congress-DMK alliance, Palanisamy said.
When contacted, party joint convenor K P Munusamy said that the works are underway to fill the vacant posts. “This is an internal party activity. The party leadership is aware of the situation and has already taken steps to address issues pertaining to GC and EC meetings. They will be conducted shortly,” the AIADMK leader said.
“The district secretaries are currently preparing the list of vacant posts. Further, a lot of AMMK functionaries are returning to the parent organisation, thus delaying the enumeration work,” an informed party senior at the party headquarters told DT Next.
Furthermore, the ruling AIADMK has also reduced the annual winter session into a one-day session, while Governor Banwarilal Purohit prorogued the assembly session which commenced on December 6 to discuss the Mekedatu issue. The delay in conducting local body polls is also something that the AIADMK has not witnessed during the days of former CM J Jayalalithaa and party founder MGR.
A section of AIADMK functionaries feel that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam are more focused on running the government than attending to party-related issues.
According to AIADMK insiders, the exodus of MLAs, since disqualified by the Speaker, towards TTV Dhinakaran and his AMMK has weakened the party. Several functionaries have moved to the rival faction resulting in vacancies of existing party posts.
The issue that has bothered old-timers the most is the delay in convening the general council.
“The last GC jointly conducted by OPS and EPS ousted then AIADMK secretary V K Sasikala. Party activities have taken a back seat when compared to the days of Jayalalithaa,” rued a former AIADMK legislator.
Given the situation, there are calls to re-induct those who had deserted the party. Speaking to reporters on Friday, expelled AIADMK member K C Palanisamy, who had filed a series of petitions with the High Court and election commission against his removal, said the AIADMK should rope in all its former functionaries who had left the party due to various reasons. Some of the former AIADMK ministers like S Thirunavukkarasar, E V Velu and Muthusamy are now serving in the Congress and the DMK. Such leaders should be invited to re-join the party. This move will weaken the Congress-DMK alliance, Palanisamy said.
When contacted, party joint convenor K P Munusamy said that the works are underway to fill the vacant posts. “This is an internal party activity. The party leadership is aware of the situation and has already taken steps to address issues pertaining to GC and EC meetings. They will be conducted shortly,” the AIADMK leader said.
“The district secretaries are currently preparing the list of vacant posts. Further, a lot of AMMK functionaries are returning to the parent organisation, thus delaying the enumeration work,” an informed party senior at the party headquarters told DT Next.