As previously announced, the AIADMK on Wednesday declared Edappadi K Palaniswami, popularly called EPS, as the party's chief ministerial candidate. As the current Chief Minister, and after General Secretary VK Sasikala was out of power, the EPS maximized the party and the government. Nevertheless, the announcement came after several weeks of wrangling between the factions led by him and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (OPS), who is now also a former chief minister with a low base. The CM candidate has been announced with the long-standing demand of the 11-member Steering Committee.
Why AIADMK chose EPS as CM candidateEPS is currently the most powerful leader in the AIADMK. He has the support of almost all the cabinet members, MLAs, and party forums in the districts.
The OPS had previously held the post of CM three times - twice when late party supremo J Jayalalithaa was forced out of power for a brief period and ultimately after her death. Jayalalithaa and her close aide Sasikala had OPS's like a steadfast loyal, who had given him the CM post in the past.
After Jayalalithaa's death, OPS, who was tasked by Sasikala to play CM's role, broke that trust by leading a revolt against her in the party. However, his failed rebellion ejected him from power with EPS, another Sasikala loyalist replacing him after floor test.
Unlike OPS, EPS succeeded in retaining the power it had assumed in early 2017. He also claimed power and place in the party, in the process, he was forced to merge with OPS and oust General Secretary Sasikala and his nephew TTV Dhinakaran from the party. Sources close to him accuse BJP of being ready to do things he never wanted to do. Even when he worked against Sasikala, EPS had sidelined OPS in the party and managed to get support from his predecessor's key allies.
Importance of this announcement for EPSDeclaring EPS as CM candidate was a clear decision. No one doubted his chances of becoming CM candidate again. This further strengthened his hold on the party as Sasikala is expected to come out of Bengaluru jail in a month.
"Even though Sasikala comes back and regains her position as party general secretary, EPS will remain the CM candidate. But the possible withdrawal of Sasikala also means that she will abolish these arrangements and posts such as the Steering Committee and Coordinating posts as they were unheard of in the party constitution. In such a scenario, the OPS would be forced to return to its earlier position as a loyalist. With his weak base, he has no choice left; A senior minister of the AIADMK said he could not revolt like 2017 or claim the moral upper hand.
Has OPS achieved anything in this system?It was an internal dispute over the past two months by OPS that forced the party to form a Steering Committee on Wednesday, a promise that merged the OPS and EPS factions in August 2017. EPS camp was reluctant to make the steering committee. The committee was a victory for the OPS, with his five loyalists in the newly formed 11-member Steering Committee.
However, it would be a win on OPS paper as he now barely survived with five MLAs. Furthermore, sources close to the OPS believe that the steering committee's powers are not clear as the party has formed separate committees to handle the upcoming election and candidate selection.
"The single demand of OPS was to form a committee without any clarity about its powers. What next? According to sources, either OPS would continue with more complaints and create unrest in the party, or both leaders would focus on campaigning without publicly showing disagreement as it would make the party weak.