O Panneerselvam said he would challenge the order in the Supreme Court. (file)
Chennai:
AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Friday termed as “historic” the Madras High Court’s decision, which backed his election as the party’s interim chief in July. Rival leader O Panneerselvam said the high court’s decision would be challenged in the Supreme Court.
As soon as the court pronounced the verdict, AIADMK workers burst crackers, distributed sweets and reached Palaniswami’s residence to greet him.
Without naming Mr. Panneerselvam or his supporters, the EPS hit out at “mischievous autism” individuals. Further, referring to them as “diseases that kill from within”, the EPS said they were working in support of the ruling DMK, while the party was raising slogans. To save the people from the “anarchy” of the DMK regime.
Palaniswami said such elements were a hindrance in the whole hearted work of the AIADMK aimed at the welfare of the people and party workers.
“I gladly welcome the decision of the Madras High Court Bench,” EPS said in a statement. He thanked all the party workers and office bearers who stood by him in his legal battle.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Panneerselvam said that the High Court’s decision will be challenged in the Supreme Court.
On the party leadership dispute, the Madras High Court earlier on Friday allowed Mr Palaniswami’s appeal and set aside an earlier order in favor of Mr Panneerselvam.
A division bench of Justices M Duraiswami and Sundar Mohan set aside the single judge’s order that had set aside the AIADMK general council meeting on July 11.
At that meeting in July, the Leader of the Opposition EPS was elected to the top post, the party’s interim general secretary. Panneerselvam was expelled from the party.
Palaniswami’s position as the supreme leader of AIADMK has been further strengthened by this new court order.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)