There’s no permanent CM, says OPS

There’s no permanent CM, says OPS

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

25.03.2021 

The divisions within the AIADMK came into the open when deputy chief minister and AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam asserted that there was no “dual leadership” in the party nor “a permanent chief minister”. The AIADMK leader said he had a lot of respect for former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s closeaide V K Sasikala and that he remained a loyal friend to her nephew and AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran.

“The administration is run by a single leadership. And, there is no dual leadership in the party. He (EPS) steers the government and I extend support to him. Similarly, I am the coordinator of the party and he supports me. This is our mutual relationship,” Panneerselvam said in an interview to a Tamil television channel telecast on Tuesday.

Panneerselvam’s remarks come against the backdrop of a caste backlash in the mukkulathor-dominated Bodinayakkanur constituency where he is contesting as the AIADMK candidate. The Edappadi K Palaniswami government had announced internal reservation for the vanniyar community within the 20% MBC quota minutes before the Election Commission issued the poll notification for the April 6 assembly election. The mukkulathor caste is a sub-sect of the thevar community to which both Sasikala and OPS belong.

But Panneerselvam’s pro-Sasikala remarks have upset the EPS camp that has stoutly opposed her reinduction into the party as well as a merger of the AIADMK and AMMK. “EPS was quite upset and met OPS at a private hotel in Salem on Wednesday morning and was closeted with him for 15 minutes,” said a source privy to the meeting. “EPS requested OPS to refrain from making statements that may jeopardize the electoral prospects of the party. The leaders also discussed election strategies,” said the source. Panneerselvam reached Salem on Tuesday night to campaign in Salem and Edappadi, while Palaniswami took a break from electioneering on Tuesday and was at his Salem residence. EPS is the AIADMK’s candidate in Edappadi.

In the interview, Panneerselvam said he had “no suspicion about Sasikala in Jayalalithaa’s death” nor did he have anything against her. The AIADMK, he said, could consider taking her back on humanitarian basis, if she accepted the “present set-up” of the party.

“OPS has expressed his views going by his conscience. He is known to speak responsibly after giving much thought. If he says something it must be true only,” AIADMK spokesman Kovai K Selvaraj said. A section, however, feels the comments were unwarranted when the party is fighting a tough poll battle.

“Today, he (EPS) is the chief minister. No one knows who will become CM after him. Only those who possess qualification and ability will get an opportunity,” OPS said in the interview.

INSTANT FEEDBACK: Following his deputy O Panneerselvam’s remarks on Tuesday, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami met with OPS in a hotel in Salem on Wednesday and urged him to refrain from making such comments

IN THE INTERVIEW, PANNEERSELVAM SAID HE HAD “NO SUSPICION ABOUT SASIKALA IN JAYALALITHAA’S DEATH” NOR DID HE HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST HER. THE AIADMK, HE SAID, COULD CONSIDER TAKING HER BACK ON HUMANITARIAN BASIS, IF SHE ACCEPTED THE PRESENT PARTY SET-UP