The battle for the symbol has been won. For the combine of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and his deputy O. Panneerselvam, however, this is only the first step. Much work remains to be done. Among them are the constitution of a “steering committee”, wooing back pro-Dhinakaran MLAs and MPs, and reshuffle of office-bearers.
As per the amended by-laws of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the steering committee will be known as the advisory committee.
In addition to Mr. Panneerselvam, who will be the coordinator, Mr. Palaniswami, co-coordinator, and K. P. Munusamy and R. Vaithilingam, deputy coordinators, the committee will have six members who originally supported Mr. Palaniswami and five who were with Mr. Panneerselvam’s faction. In all, the committee will have 15 members.
Though the composition was expected to be announced immediately after the merger between their respective factions, it was not done consciously, according to a senior leader, as otherwise there might have been defection to the group led by T.T.V. Dhinakaran, dissident AIADMK leader. “Now, such chances are remote in view of the Palaniswami-Panneerselvam combine being recognised as (custodians of) the AIADMK and given the symbol,” the leader explains.
Senior leaders of the party are also conscious of wooing back two MLAs, E. Rathinasabapathy and V.T. Kalaiselvan, who are still supporting the rebel leader, as also six Members of Parliament. “We are aware that our MPs and MLAs may come under pressure to cross over to the ruling camp,” Thangatamilselvan, a prominent face of the Dhinakaran group, says.
AIADMK leaders say changes in office-bearers may also take place in the coming weeks as there are five secretaries of the district units who are in the dissident group.
S. Semmalai, Mettur legislator, is for “regaining” Jaya TV and Dr. Namadhu MGR, which have been “organs” of the party [both are privately owned by family members of V.K. Sasikala] “They were all established with the support and contributions of senior leaders, district functionaries and cadres of the party,” he says, contending that lands and buildings belonging to the party in parts of the State should also be brought under the control of the party.
