On Tuesday in the morning, Sasikala was convicted by the Supreme Court and pronounced with 4 years of a jail term. After this decision, the Sasikala camp has announced the eviction of O. Panneerselvam from AIADMK and named highways minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami as the legislative party leader. He also has been put forward as the proposed CM of Tamil Nadu.
Pannerselvam, after Chinnamma’s verdict, called upon the AIADMK party members to bury the past and unite for the betterment of the state and the party. Pannerselvam was a staunch follower of Jayalalithaa and has faced criticism for celebrating Sasikala’s arrest as the arrest also meant the conviction of Late Jayalalithaa who was the prime accused in the case.
But not giving attention to these rumors, Pannerselvam recalling his appointment day as the Chief Minister said that after the demise of Amma he tried to take care of the State following her footsteps and winning appreciation from different wakes of government.
The power to remove any member of the Party stands with the General Secretary. But with J. Jayalalitha’s demise and Sasikala’s arrest, this position is now empty which means O. Pannerselvam cannot be evicted from the party. This division of opinions has created a rift between the party members.
OPS calling for unity of the Party said, “In an unexpected turn of certain events in the last few days, we face a temporary setback to continue Amma’s Government to its full term. Let us bury the hatchets and stay united for the welfare of party and continue the good governance of Amma. It is our duty to act as per our conscience and take up the needful. This alone is our wholehearted tribute to our leader.” He also added, “In the absence of Amma, you all know what the people, especially the cadre who worked tirelessly for the party’s victory, would like to have. It is the duty of the legislators to respect their sentiments, and that is good for the state.”
The most trusted lieutenant of Jayalalithaa, O. Panneerselvam said “Our rivals have been waiting for a split in the party. We should not give room to that. If that happens, the spirits of MGR and Amma will not forgive us.” While Panneerselvam is striving for the unity of the party, Sasikala’s followers at the Golden Bay resort elected Palaniswami as the party leader to claim the CM post and evicted Panneerselvam and 19 others from primary posts in the AIADMK party.
