AIADMK Power Tussle: EPS Moves Court Against HC Order, OPS Calls For United AIADMK Along With Sasikala, TTV

AIADMK Power Tussle: Even though OPS started a 'dharma yudham' against Sasikala after former TN CM Jayalalithaa's demise, OPS and Sasikala share the support of Thevars (a caste group) in AIADMK.

OPS and EPS | Credit: ABP Nadu

Chennai: After Madras High Court’s judgment on Wednesday brought the confusion in AIADMK back to square one, Tamil Nadu Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday appealed against the order and sought an urgent hearing in the matter. While EPS moved court, at the same time, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam called for a press meet at the party headquarters in Chennai and pitched for a united AIADMK by including EPS and ousted leaders Sasikala and TTV Dhinakaran. 

On Thursday, Edappadi Palaniswami appealed against August 18’s Madras High Court order passed in favour of OPS. The plea also sought an urgent hearing.

Edappadi Palaniswami has appealed against yesterday's HC order passed in favour of OPS, asking for an urgent hearing.

OPS in his plea had questioned legality of convening AIADMK General Council meet. The HC ordered status quo ante June 23 & ordered a fresh general council meet https://t.co/EiUjsund1X

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2022

Meanwhile, at the same time as EPS approached the court, O Panneerselvam called for a press meet at AIADMK headquarters in Royapettah and pitched for a united AIADMK. In the press meet, OPS said, “Party should unite to make sure we rule again. I call on all AIADMK functionaries including Sasikala and TTV Dinakaran to work together again. We should all forget the bitter past and move ahead in the interest of the party.”

Even though OPS started a 'dharma yudham' against Sasikala after she started to take over the party and government after former TN CM Jayalalithaa's demise, OPS and Sasikala share the support of Thevars, a powerful caste community in Tamil Nadu, within AIADMK. On the other hand, Edappadi Palaniswami has the support of Gounder. 

On August 18, the Madras HC ordered status quo ante June 23 and told AIADMK to conduct a fresh general council meet. It also held that the General Council meet held on July 11 was invalid. In the AIADMK General Council meeting on July 11, EPS was appointed as the General Secretary of AIADMK while OPS was ousted from the party.