I-T searches on, OPS raises steering committee issue
D.Govardan@timesgroup.com
Chennai:18.07.2018
The income tax raids on the premises of SPK and Christie Foods seems to have come as an ideal opportunity for deputy chief minister and AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam to raise his voice, after almost a year, in the party forum.
At an internal meeting held at the AIADMK headquarters on Monday, OPS raised the issue of forming the steering committee, pending for long, to pave way for collective leadership for the party.
According to party insiders, former CM J Jayalalithad controlled the party with an iron hand and the party abided by her decisions and actions. In her absence, that is no longer the case. Hence, it was decided to usher in an era of collective leadership in the party by setting up a steering committee and this was a main condition agreed upon before the merger of the factions led by OPS and CM Edappadi K Palaniswami. “A resolution for the same was passed in the General Council meeting on September 12, 2017 and incorporated into the party bylaw,” recalled an AIADMK leader.
At the Monday meeting, when some leaders were discussing conducting state-wide meetings to highlight the government’s achievements, a few others drew their attention to hundreds of party posts lying vacant and the need to fill them up. “Immediately, OPS said when the steering committee itself is yet to be formed, how can we talk about other posts. We don’t have a mass leader and hence decisions should be taken through collective leadership and not by individuals any longer,” a source in AIADMK said.
OPS wanted the committee to be formed immediately and all issues and decisions concerning the party be referred to it and ratified by coordinator, joint coordinator and deputy coordinators. “This strong statement by OPS rattled the EPS camp,” the source added, recalling developments at the meeting.
Indications had emerged by Monday night that formation of the steering committee cannot be delayed any longer.
“While it will be a 11-member committee, as originally planned, the numbers could tilt in favour of EPS, given his growing clout over the past year, than the 6 for his camp as decided last year. An announcement regarding the committee could be made soon,” a senior party leader told TOI.
Meanwhile, party insiders say, for the first time, a top level internal meeting at the party headquarters ended without a word being uttered about the opposition DMK. “Not a single word was spoken about the DMK at Monday’s meeting and the focus was completely on T T V Dhinakaran. That clearly showed how jittery and scared the leaders are about him,” said a senior leader, seeking anonymity.
D.Govardan@timesgroup.com
Chennai:18.07.2018
The income tax raids on the premises of SPK and Christie Foods seems to have come as an ideal opportunity for deputy chief minister and AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam to raise his voice, after almost a year, in the party forum.
At an internal meeting held at the AIADMK headquarters on Monday, OPS raised the issue of forming the steering committee, pending for long, to pave way for collective leadership for the party.
According to party insiders, former CM J Jayalalithad controlled the party with an iron hand and the party abided by her decisions and actions. In her absence, that is no longer the case. Hence, it was decided to usher in an era of collective leadership in the party by setting up a steering committee and this was a main condition agreed upon before the merger of the factions led by OPS and CM Edappadi K Palaniswami. “A resolution for the same was passed in the General Council meeting on September 12, 2017 and incorporated into the party bylaw,” recalled an AIADMK leader.
At the Monday meeting, when some leaders were discussing conducting state-wide meetings to highlight the government’s achievements, a few others drew their attention to hundreds of party posts lying vacant and the need to fill them up. “Immediately, OPS said when the steering committee itself is yet to be formed, how can we talk about other posts. We don’t have a mass leader and hence decisions should be taken through collective leadership and not by individuals any longer,” a source in AIADMK said.
OPS wanted the committee to be formed immediately and all issues and decisions concerning the party be referred to it and ratified by coordinator, joint coordinator and deputy coordinators. “This strong statement by OPS rattled the EPS camp,” the source added, recalling developments at the meeting.
Indications had emerged by Monday night that formation of the steering committee cannot be delayed any longer.
“While it will be a 11-member committee, as originally planned, the numbers could tilt in favour of EPS, given his growing clout over the past year, than the 6 for his camp as decided last year. An announcement regarding the committee could be made soon,” a senior party leader told TOI.
Meanwhile, party insiders say, for the first time, a top level internal meeting at the party headquarters ended without a word being uttered about the opposition DMK. “Not a single word was spoken about the DMK at Monday’s meeting and the focus was completely on T T V Dhinakaran. That clearly showed how jittery and scared the leaders are about him,” said a senior leader, seeking anonymity.
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