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AIADMK fight: Madras High Court to decide fate of big OPS vs EPS fight

July 11, 2022
Bharat Times

While the party meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:15 am, the court will give its order at 9 am.

New Delhi:
Two top leaders of Tamil Nadu’s main opposition AIADMK are battling for control over the party, even as the matter is being dragged to the top courts. An important meeting on Monday could prevent a prolonged internal power struggle.

Here’s your 10-point guide to this big story:

  1. The Madras High Court will pronounce its order at 9 am today on a plea by top AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam or OPS to stop a crucial party meeting that will decide the party’s future leadership structure. While the meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:15 am, the court will give its order at 9 am.

  2. O Panneerselvam or OPS, and Edappadi K Palaniswami or EPS, have been pushing for the functioning of the party for several months, with the former insisting on continuing the current joint leadership model, but the latter retaining himself as party general. Looking for single leadership. Secretary.

  3. The OPS was seen as the political successor to the late party chief J Jayalalithaa, while the EPS was heavily supported by party workers.

  4. Jayalalithaa had twice chosen the OPS as her stand-in-chief, when she had to step down after being convicted. Although OPS was promoted for the third time just before his death, Jayalalithaa’s aide VK Sasikala, who briefly headed the party, replaced him with EPS after revolting against him.

  5. However, in a sensational political twist, the two leaders came to a compromise and expelled Sasikala in jail. Became number one in OPS party and EPS deputy. OPS Chief Minister became EPS Deputy in the government.

  6. After a series of electoral defeats, the EPS has stated that the model is not working, while the OPS has approached the courts to retain power over the party.

  7. The EPS has even made it clear to its rival OPS that he is no longer the convener of the party. During his four-year tenure as Chief Minister, the EPS consolidated its position and took control of the party.

  8. Meanwhile, the matter is being heard in the Madras High Court on a petition filed by the OPS to restrain the party’s top decision-making body.

  9. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court allowed Team EPS to proceed with the meeting in compliance with the law, with Team OPS arguing that the conduct of the meeting was technically illegal and therefore void. His counsel claimed that as per the bye-law only the coordinator and the joint coordinator can call the meeting.

  10. However, Team EPS claimed that last month’s General Council did not ratify the dual-leadership election, leaving the party headless and thus unable to elect a stand-in general secretary until the party’s internal elections are legally valid. have a meeting. It says that the dual leadership model has made decision making difficult. The party had to face three consecutive electoral defeats under the joint leadership model.