Even as two factions of the AIADMK — the AIADMK (Amma) and the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) — are trying to arrive at an acceptable arrangement for their merger, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker and leader of the former group M. Thambidurai on Friday said that only the Election Commission of India (ECI) can take a call on the validity of her appointment .
Sacking Sasikala from the party is one of the key demands of the O. Panneerselvam led-AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) for the merger of the two factions.
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“She was elected duly by primary members of the party who form the general council. In her absence, the party secretaries can handle everyday affairs of the party. But they have no right to appoint anyone as general secretary or remove the existing general secretary,” Mr. Thambidurai said.
V. Maitreyan, MP from the Panneerselvam camp, had filed a case with the ECI, challenging Sasikala’s elevation. In March, the Commission served a notice on her, saying the elevation order was signed by TTV Dhinakaran, who is not in the list of the party’s office-bearers.
“The case is pending in the election commission. The AIADMK cannot take any decision till the commission gives its opinion,” Mr Thambidurai said.
He ruled out the replacement of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami too as, he said, Mr. Palaniswami was appointed to the post by Sasikala.
“Palaniswamy became Chief Minister with the support of MLAs and they continue to be with him,” Mr. Thambidurai. said. He did not comment on a ''power-sharing formula'' that has been doing the rounds.
With multiple trips to New Delhi by leaders of both the warring groups, the party was fighting hard to erase the perception that it was being remote-controlled by the BJP , he said.
“No party can control another party. Every party has its own identity, supporters, office bearers. The cadre and public will not accept it. There were more serious allegations against the DMK like corruption cases, 2G spectrum, Aircel Maxis and so on. Can we say the Congress controlled the DMK? At best it is an allegation and there is nothing to prove,” he added.
With the threat of the DMK moving in a no-confidence motion against the government, there seems to be an uneasy agreement within the two factions as well the Dhinakaran group to vote in favour of the government. Mr. Thambidurai claimed that there is no danger to the government.
“There need not be any confusion, it is a stable government and Mr. Palaniswami is running the government very well on the principles of Amma. Despite the internal hiccups during the last few months, none of the party members have left to join any other political forum,” he noted.
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