AIADMK Unitary Leadership Row: Coordinator OPS Bats For Dual Leaders, Says Ready To Discuss Issue With EPS

AIADMK Unitary Leadership Row: OPS also said that he will never go out of the party and no one can sideline him from AIADMK.

AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and Edappadi Palaniswami | Credit: ABP Nadu

Chennai: AIADMK Coordinator O Panneerselvam on Thursday rejected the demand for unitary leadership and said that he was open to holding talks with the Co-coordinator of the party Edappadi Palaniswami about the issue.

Addressing the reporters after holding a consultation meet on Thursday, AIADMK Coordinator O Panneerselvam said, "The post of General Secretary will only belong to Ex-CM Jayalalithaa and it’s a unitary leadership is a betrayal of late party supremo. Also, that was the reason why a resolution was passed by AIADMK to create Coordinator and Co-Coordinator posts and even Election Commission has also given nod for the current system."

Therefore, he said, "I don't even know why a single leadership discussion came into the picture and only after Ex-Minister Jayakumar's press meet discussion snowballed into a controversy. Presently, dual leadership is going well so EPS must take action against the people who brought the issue." 

He also said that he was open to discussing the issue with Ex-CM EPS.

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Further, OPS who has also served as the CM of Tamil Nadu in the past said that he never had desire for power and always placed party’s interest above all. OPS said, "I have always said that I will continue to handle the party and do not want the post of Deputy CM. However, only EPS proposed dual leadership. Later, I met PM in New Delhi who also told me to take up the Deputy CM role so I was forced to take it."

OPS also said that he will never go out of the party and no one can sideline him from AIADMK.

OPS also recalled that the post of General Secretary cannot be formed without the consent of both of them (OPS and EPS).