GC ousts Sasikala, forms steering panel to run party

The next resolution (No 8) stated that VK Sasikala was nominated general secretary as Jayalalithaa’s death affected the party and hence, they needed someone to take care of the party temporarily. It also added that all Sasikala’s decisions between December 30, 2016, and February 15, 2017, including nominations, additions and deletions to the party would stand cancelled, thereby indirectly revealing that TTV Dinakaran is no more deputy general secretary of the party. 

The presidium chairman’s post thus reverts to M Madhusoodanan with both Sasikala nominated treasurer (Dindigul C Srinivasan) and presidium chairman (KA Sengottaiyan) losing their posts. 

A total of 12 resolutions were adopted, including appreciation for the state government in conducting the MGR centenary celebrations successfully, provision of drought relief to farmers and thanking the state government for sanctioning Rs 15 crore for Jayalalithaa’s memorial. 

Similarly, the powers of the general secretary have been transferred to the steering committee coordinator O Pannneerselvam and joint coordinator Palaniswami and hence for the first time, the party that was led by an individual so far will be led by a team. The coordinator and joint coordinator have been given powers to run the party and are also empowered to make changes in the rules, according to another resolution. 

Later, Ramanathapuram MP Anwar Raja told the media at the venue that the resolutions would be handed over to the Election Commission at the earliest in order to retrieve the Two Leaves symbol of the party. 

Speaking to the media, GC Member and MP V Maitreyan said, “The coordinator, joint coordinator and deputy coordinators (R Vaithilingam MP and former minister KP Munusamy) would decide when to meet EC officials.” 

In another development, a Tamil Nadu Police team on Tuesday visited a resort in Kodagu district of Karnataka in search of an AIADMK MLA in connection with a pending case against him. The AIADMK legislators loyal to the Sasikala camp are at present lodged in the Paddington resort near Kushalnagar. Sources at the resort said MLA Pallaniyappan had left the place on Monday and that his whereabouts were not known. The police team had to return empty handed.

AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran on Tuesday sought to play down the unified AIADMK’s decision annulling the appointment of his aunt VK Sasikala as party interim GS, indicating that the court would have the final say in the matter. He also dubbed the general council meeting as a ‘public meeting’ and vowed to “send home this regime” led by Palaniswami.