The ruling AIADMK, led by party convener O Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, is all set to witness political drama from September as unconfirmed reports are surfacing about the release of ousted AIADMK leader VK Sasikala.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami , O Panneerselvam and Sasikala Natarajan
Chennai: Further, a section of the AIADMK regional satraps are also against the idea of creating more district secretary posts in the party creating tough times for the AIADMK leaders OPS and EPS.
When contacted, senior advocate Raja Sendhur Pandian, counsel for VK Sasikala, said, “there is no confirmed news on the release date of Sasikala. We are reaching out to the prison authorities in Bengaluru seeking the details,” Senthur Pandian told DT Next. According to AMMK sources, Sasikala, who is in the last year of her four year jail term had completed 80 per cent of her term and is expected by the end of this year.
“Both these factors, the release of Sasikala and creation of more posts in the party, are two prominent subjects now being discussed by the party men,” admit AIADMK sources hinting that Law Minister CV Shanmugham, Dairy Development Minister Rajendra Bhalaji, Commercial Tax Minister KC Veeramani are upset with discussions in the party over the appointment of new district secretaries in their native districts.
“The ministers want to control the entire district, but the party seniors wish more bifurcation of district units will help the party win more seats in the next year Assembly polls,” said a party senior adding that the district secretaries in Chennai were also briefed about the formation of new district-level posts. Recently, the party also sacked the 12,000 panchayat head posts, and this had not gone well among the party workers in rural areas,” the senior said.
Adding fuel to fire, ousted AIADMK leader KC Palaniswami, who was recently arrested by the Coimbatore police for ‘misusing’ the party symbol, has begun an online campaign through social media where the voices of aggrieved AIADMK workers are recorded and shared to the party men.
“A lot of AIADMK workers like me are upset with the current party leadership and the way the party is administered. Those who are following the principles of MGR and Jayalalithaa will not join the DMK, so there is a need to unite the AIADMK cadre who are upset. Due to the lockdown, the campaign is done through social media,” said former AIADMK MP Palaniswami.
When contacted, senior advocate Raja Sendhur Pandian, counsel for VK Sasikala, said, “there is no confirmed news on the release date of Sasikala. We are reaching out to the prison authorities in Bengaluru seeking the details,” Senthur Pandian told DT Next. According to AMMK sources, Sasikala, who is in the last year of her four year jail term had completed 80 per cent of her term and is expected by the end of this year.
“Both these factors, the release of Sasikala and creation of more posts in the party, are two prominent subjects now being discussed by the party men,” admit AIADMK sources hinting that Law Minister CV Shanmugham, Dairy Development Minister Rajendra Bhalaji, Commercial Tax Minister KC Veeramani are upset with discussions in the party over the appointment of new district secretaries in their native districts.
“The ministers want to control the entire district, but the party seniors wish more bifurcation of district units will help the party win more seats in the next year Assembly polls,” said a party senior adding that the district secretaries in Chennai were also briefed about the formation of new district-level posts. Recently, the party also sacked the 12,000 panchayat head posts, and this had not gone well among the party workers in rural areas,” the senior said.
Adding fuel to fire, ousted AIADMK leader KC Palaniswami, who was recently arrested by the Coimbatore police for ‘misusing’ the party symbol, has begun an online campaign through social media where the voices of aggrieved AIADMK workers are recorded and shared to the party men.
“A lot of AIADMK workers like me are upset with the current party leadership and the way the party is administered. Those who are following the principles of MGR and Jayalalithaa will not join the DMK, so there is a need to unite the AIADMK cadre who are upset. Due to the lockdown, the campaign is done through social media,” said former AIADMK MP Palaniswami.