‘EPS had plotted to defeat OPS and supporters in 2021 assembly elections’

COIMBATORE: A day after AIADMK deputy coordinator K P Munusamy hit out at party coordinator O Panneerselvam, the OPS camp upped the ante accusing former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami of betraying the party on multiple occasions.
In a sign of widening rift between the two camps, Kovai Selvaraj, a supporter of OPS, alleged that EPS had conspired to defeat OPS and his supporters, Vaithilingam and Manoj Pandian, in the 2021 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
“EPS doesn’t have political decency or the qualities required to be a leader. EPS is the embodiment of betrayal,’’ he alleged.
Demanding that the EPS camp stop slandering OPS, Selvaraj said EPS and his associates should ‘reform’ themselves and work for the growth of the AIADMK.
He warned that if EPS and his associates failed to stop mudslinging, OPS would expose their ‘misdeeds.’
“Those who looted public exchequer will get punished. We will expose them in the right forum,’’ he said.
“Cadres are united behind OPS. The court case on the appeal against single judge order on maintaining status quo ante has reached its final stage. Justice will prevail there,’’ he said.
Accusing EPS and his associates of running the party like a private company, Selvaraj said the party members were losing patience because of this attitude.
“I appeal to EPS not to betray the party,’’ he said.
Hitting out at EPS and K P Munusamy in equal measure, Kovai Selvaraj said the party rank and file was behind OPS and that OPS would lead the party efficiently.
To a query, he said it was up to the cadre to decide if EPS should be in the party or not. However, he said the factional feud would not lead to freezing of party symbol.
Denying charges of damaging furniture at the AIADMK headquarters and stealing documents by OPS supporters, Selvaraj said it was the EPS supporters who had been staying in the headquarters for a week before the general council and that it could be their handiwork. Nevertheless, there were no valuables or documents in the party office, he said.
“As the treasurer and coordinator of the AIADMK, OPS is caretaker of properties. How can the one incharge of the property be accused of damaging it?’’ he asked.