Vasan extends support, to campaign for O Panneerselvam

Accompanied by a few senior leaders, Panneerselvam on Thursday visited Vasan who not only offered to campaign for the former’s candidate E Madhusudhanan in RK Nagar from Saturday, but also described the former chief minister as the rightful successor of former chief minister Jayalalithaa.

 Aside from the fact that the support of Vasan would give a minor electoral advantage, in getting another party to accept his leadership, OPS has positioned himself as a party leader who could head an alliance. That OPS has wooed a party, more so when no one wants to partner with the AIADMK commandeered by TTV Dinakaran, also suggests that he was more likeable than the ruling dispensation. 

Political commentator Ravindran Doraisamy said, “It is an image game. Vasan is a leader with common image. Though he does not have any district-specific vote bank like Ramadoss or Tirumavalavan, he has an appeal among non-committed voters. It would help Panneerselvam, who is planning a larger alliance against Stalin’s DMK. His first catch is Vasan. He will try to rope in parties jettisoned by DMK. He will first bring together all parties turned away by DMK and then pitch himself against Stalin.” 

After the Election Commission (EC) freezed the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol following a split in the party, the symbol, which was used in the internet and social media by the VK Sasikala faction of the AIADMK has been removed. Following a complaint from the rebel faction led by O Panneerselvam that the symbol was being misused by the Sasikala camp, the EC took objections and directed the party to remove them.