OPS vs EPS: SC Refuses To Stay Tamil Nadu's Ex Deputy CM O Panneerselvam's Expulsion From AIADMK

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to interfere with the Madras high court's order that upheld the expulsion of former Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) and three others from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (AIADMK).

The top court today refused to interfere with the high court order saying that an injunction at this stage will lead to a huge chaos. ( Image Source :PTI )

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to interfere with the Madras high court's order that upheld the expulsion of former Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) and three others from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (AIADMK).

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta dismissing the plea observed that there appears to be a split in the party and it wont be proper to interfere at this stage.

The top court today refused to interfere with the high court order saying that an injunction at this stage will lead to a huge chaos.

OPS along with several other members of AIADMK were expelled on July 11, 2022 after Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) was elected as the interim general secretary of the party in general council meeting of the party.

In August 2023, the Madras high court refused to stay the expulsion of OPS and three others from the AIADMK. The high court relied on the party bylaws and upheld the expulsion saying that the bylaws made it clear that the general council is the ultimate authority to take disciplinary action against any party members. 

In September 2023, the high court upheld EPS’s appointment as general secretary.

After AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa passed away in 2016, two factions led by OPS and EPS emerged in the party. EPS became the Chief Minister and OPS became the deputy chief minister. In 2021, the party lost in Assembly elections and EPS became the leader of opposition and OPS became the deputy leader of opposition. 

However, EPS's followers started voicing concern over two party heads and pitched for a single leadership. In June 2023, OPS wanted to move a resolution supporting dual leadership in party. A subsequent political and legal battle ensued withing the party and OPS along with his supporters were expelled from the party.

Senior Advocate Aryama Sundaram and CS Vaidyanathan appeared for E Palaniswamy, while Senior Advocate KK Venugopal and Gopal Sankaranarayanan appeared for Panneerselvam and other expelled members.