AIADMK Leadership Row: Setback For OPS, SC Upholds Madras HC Order Restoring EPS As Sole Leader

AIADMK Leadership Row: The Supreme Court delivered the verdict in a batch of pleas relating to the tussle between two factions of the AIADMK.

AIADMK Interim General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami

Source : Facebook/EdappadiKPalaniswami

Chennai: Putting an end to AIADMK leadership row, the Supreme Court held July 11 AIADMK General Council meeting as valid. The verdict has paved way for Edappadi Palaniswami to become the sole convenor of AIADMK. The court also rejected O Panneerselvam's plea challenging Madras High Court division bench decision.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court bench of Dinesh Maheswari and Hrishikesh Roy upheld Madras High Court order setting aside the single-judge order on August 17 that quashed the resolution passed at AIADMK general council meeting.

The Supreme Court on Thursday delivered the verdict in a batch of pleas relating to the tussle between two factions of the AIADMK including Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam over the leadership of the party.

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On July 11, AIADMK general council appointed Edappadi K Palaniswami as the interim general secretary of the party. The meeting also revoked the dual leadership posts of coordinator and co-coordinator. Earlier, the post of coordinator was held by O Panneerselvam. 

The meeting also decided to revive the general secretary post and allow primary members of the party to elect the general secretary. 

In the same meeting, EPS faction expelled O Panneerselvam and the leaders supporting him. 

During the same time, OPS also issued a statement expelling EPS from AIADMK. However, the resolution will not be valid after the SC judgment.

Meanwhile, the verdict has come just ahead of Erode East Bypolls which is crucial for AIADMK. The AIADMK has been suffering several blows since 2019 Parliamentary elections due to the party's internal tussle and waning support. Now, though the verdict has come as a relief to AIADMK it is to be seen whether EPS' win will reflect as the win of AIADMK at the grassroots level.