With Justice N Sathish Kumar of the Madras High Court pronouncing in his verdict on Wednesday that Edappadi K Palaniswami is the only person entitled or the possession of the AIADMK headquarters in Chennai, the former chief minister who is also the interim general secretary of the party has scored a strategic win in the race for the control of the 1.5 crore strong party. The judge also declared as null and void the proceedings initiated by the South Chennai Revenue Division Officer to lock, seal and attach the party head quarters on July 11.
With this verdict, the move by O Panneerselvam, the expelled coordinator of the steering committee to usurp the party structure has come a cropper. On Monday, the AIADMK had eased out Panneerselvam from the post of deputy leader of the legislature party and appointed R B Udhaya Kumar, former Revenue in his place. Both Panneerselvam and Udhaya Kumar hail from the Thevar community and the move is expected to prevent any more influx of the community members to the OPS camp.
The verdict by Judge Sathish Kumar is also a setback for the DMK Government ruling the State as it came under severe flak. The judge said that the RDO had acted in a mechanical faction while the police failed to take prompt action to prevent the violence that took place in the party headquarters on July 11 while the general council meeting was in progress at a marriage hall 15 km away.
“The only option available for Panneerselvam is to cast his lot with the DMK as he has been defeated in his own game by Palaniswami and group. OPS has become irrelevant in the AIADMK,” said Kolahala Srenivaas, author and political critic.
Palaniswami, reacting to the court verdict said that traitors had joined with the DMK to get the party headquarters sealed. “This building is a gift to the AIADMK cadres by party founder MGR and his heir Amma. Nobody other than the party cadres own this headquarters,” declared Palaniswami, who was choked with emotions while addressing party members at Salem, his home town.
The three-way fight for the control of the AIADMK has come to an end, at least temporarily, said Srenivaas. “V K Sasikala, who travels across Tamil Nadu, claiming to be the general secretary of the AIADMK has become a persona non grata in the party. She needs the party more than the AIADMK needs her,” said Srenivaas.
Other political commentators are of the view that the judgment by Justice Sathish Kumar is a legal recognition for Palaniswami as the interim general secretary of the party. The committee of election officers appointed by the party general council is making elaborate arrangements for holding the election of general secretary within the first week of August.
Meanwhile as is the custom in Tamil Nadu politics, Palaniswami has been given the moniker of Puratchi Thalaimakan by O S Manian, senior leader of the party. It means he is the Revolutionary Commander and syncs with Puratchi Thalaivar (Revolutionary Leader) MGR and Puratchi Thalaivi Jayalalithaa. Sasikala claims herself as Puratchithai Chinnamma (revolutionary mother) and has sent word to her followers to address her like that.