Madras HC Dismisses Panneerselvam's Plea Against Election Of EPS As AIADMK General Secretary

The bench also refused to intervene in the expulsion of O Panneerselvam and his associates from the party. 

Currently, with Palaniswami serving as the opposition leader in the state assembly, the AIADMK is the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu. 

The Madras High Court dismissed the appeals filed by ousted AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and his aides against the election of Edappadi K Palaniswami as the interim chief of AIADMK in the general council meeting in July 2022. The bench also refused to intervene in the expulsion of O Panneerselvam and his associates from the party. 

According to PTI, a division bench comprising of Justices R Mahadevan and Mohamed Shafiq dismissed the appeals filed by O Panneerselvam and his supporters R Vaithilingam, Paul Manoj Pandian and J C D Prabhakar challenging a single bench order that refused to intervene into the resolutions passed by AIADMK general council on July 11, 2022. 

In AIADMK, the general council serves as the highest decision-making body. During the meet of general council last year, after a power struggle between the two, the party passed a resolution choosing Palaniswami as its interim general secretary and expelling his competitor Panneerselvam and his supporters.

Madras High Court dismisses appeals filed by Former Tamil Nadu Deputy CM O Panneerselvam against a single judge's refusal to interfere with the July 11, 2022, AIADMK general council resolution expelling him from the party. pic.twitter.com/yD7P79FfvH

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2023

Talking to media, EPS said, "Justice and Dharma have won today. Madras HC has recognised AIADMK General Council resolutions. AIADMK will get a huge victory in the upcoming Parliamentary elections; we are part of the NDA alliance."

 

In March this year, Palaniswami was subsequently elected general secretary, the AIADMK's highest position. Edappadi Palaniswami took charge within minutes after the Madras High Court order paving the way for his election. A single-judge bench of Justice K Kumaresh Babu dismissed pleas made by O Paneerselvam and his supporters requesting a stay of the elections for the AIADMK general secretary post.

Earlier, OPS was the coordinator of AIADMK while EPS was the co-coordinator of the party.

Currently, with Palaniswami serving as the opposition leader in the state assembly, the AIADMK is the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu.