The composition of the advisory committee of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK – Amma and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) will be finalised as soon as the Election Commission decides on the ‘two leaves’ symbol case.
Pointing out that the proposed committee will be akin to the polit bureau of the Communist parties and will take care of the problem of “leadership vacuum,” a senior Minister concedes that the party no longer enjoys the advantage of being led by “strong and charismatic” leaders. He is, however, optimistic of the party finding ways to manage “situations” in future. He also expresses the hope that the case before the EC will go in favour of the ruling dispensation.
The proposed committee assumes significance even as the organisation, which is holding an event on Tuesday to mark the completion of 45 years of existence, is being widely seen as one with no “strong, charismatic” persons at the helm.
‘United against DMK’
S. Semmalai, former Minister and now representing Mettur in the Assembly, does not agree with the argument that the party is suffering from the absence of a “strong, charismatic” leader. He feels that there are many in the party who have the “necessary qualifications” to steer the affairs as they have received “political training” at the hands of M.G.R. and Jayalalithaa. It is against this backdrop that the appointment of Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami as Coordinator and Co-Coordinator has to be viewed, he says. Referring to “the prevalence of grievance” in certain quarters that senior leaders of the party have not been provided with “due recognition,” the legislator representing Mettur says “this will be rectified shortly” when the constitution of the committee is finalised.
Dalit Ezhilmalai, who was elected from the Tiruchi Lok Sabha constituency in 2001 on an AIADMK ticket, says there are not many in the organisation who have the leadership qualities to carry on the business of the party in a cohesive way. “But, this does not make the situation easy for others.” Also, he describes the AIADMK as a party that draws strength from economically weaker sections of the society and adds that it will remain a force to reckon with despite the current “leadership vacuum.”
