Edappadi Palaniswami elected as AIADMK's interim General Secretary, in the General Council meeting in Vanagaram. AIADMK General Council adopted resolutions for reviving the general secretary post and to ensure electing a person for the post by the primary members of the party.
The election will be held 4 months from now. The General Council passed the resolution to squash dual leadership for AIADMK and create Deputy General Secretary post for the party
Court gives green light for general council meeting
Earlier in the day Madras HC gave a green signal for AIADMK general council meeting to be held today; the court rejected the plea by O Panneerselvam to stall the meeting which proposes to revive interim general secretary post and abolish coordinator as well as joint coordinator posts.
Late CM J Jayalalithaa held the post till her death in December 2016. Soon after the HC greenflag on Monday, the AIADMK Executive Council meet went underway at a wedding hall, while the General Council set to follow.
Clashes on the streets
While the AIADMK party office, MGR Maaligai and its vicinity saw some acimonious scenes-- clash between suspected supporters of EPS and OPS and unidentified persons breaking the doors to gain entry into the office, Panneerselvam arrived at the office with his supporters while his rival Palaniswami headed to the wedding hall, hosting the meet, in a different direction.
Two groups, suspected to be supporters of either leaders and carrying AIADMK flags clashed with each other, with TV visuals showing some persons hurling stones at each other and some damaging vehicles parked nearby.
A few posters and banners in the party office were damaged.
Some persons reportedly sustained injuries in the clash.
Meanwhile, some men were seen forcing their way into the party office by breaking open the doors. Security has been beefed up at the AIADMK office.
Later, Panneerselvam arrived at the AIADMK office, flanked by his supporters including R Vaithilingam and Manoj Pandian.
Panneerselvam greeted his supporters from a portico and also waved the party flag, amid chants of "Ayya OPS vazhga" (hail OPS sir) slogans by his supporters.
Court can't interfere into the squabbles of political parties
Holding that the court cannot interfere into the squabbles of a political party, the HC rejected OPS' plea to stay the conduct of the general council meeting.
Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy delivered the verdict, which allowed the EPS faction to hold the GC meeting, the supreme decision making body of the party.
After hearing the lengthy arguments of the senior counsels for either sides, Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy on July 8 reserved the orders for today.
The judge also dismissed another suit challenging the GC meeting.
The meeting can be conducted in accordance with the law, the judge said.
