Cases, Cauvery give tough time to AIADMK

The legal battle is on at both the high courts of Delhi and Madras simultaneously. The fight in Delhi High Court is the most serious one since the Supreme Court had ordered that the verdict should be pronounced before April end. 

The party leaders, while expressing confidence in public, are seriously watching the hearing, since the outcome include the possibility of freezing of ‘Two Leaves’ symbol again. TTV Dhinakaran’s side had already commenced the arguments focusing on the AIADMK constitution which declares the general secretary as the supreme authority. 

Commenting on the case, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam spokesperson V Pugazhendhi said, “As per the by-laws, there is no scope for a coordinator or a joint coordinator to run the party. The general council could not elect persons for such posts since the party can be controlled only by the general secretary. 

The Election Commission itself had not accepted the election of coordinator and joint coordinator and it had handed over the party to the presidium chairman and the treasurer.” 

In the other major battle front on Cauvery, analysts feel that the party is losing its support to minor outfits. Political commentator Govi Lenin said, “Though, there were similar outfits during the pro-Eelam agitations in the eighties, AIADMK founder MGR supported the cause and did not allow such groups to emerge. 

Now, the smaller outfits are able to muster a large number of youth to their protests since the ruling party remains alienated from the public.” 

However, JCD Prabhakar, who has been recently elevated to the post of organising secretary, asserted that it would win both the battles. 

“On the Cauvery, the party has planned to explain its stand to the people through a series of public meetings. It will counter the false propaganda that the party is not doing enough on the issue. An elected government can approach the issue only legally and we are doing it.” 

He also denied that there is a challenge to the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol and said “When the general council, the highest governing body, has elected the party’s coordinator and joint coordinator, the decision cannot be challenged. Barring a few, all the general council members and executive members are with us. There is no question of any threat to ‘Two Leaves’ and control of the party control,” he said.  

AIADMK leaders, including coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palansiwami, besides all the ministers and top leaders would address a series of meetings from April 25 to 29 in the delta districts to insist the Centre to implement the Supreme Court verdict on Cauvery dispute.

Panneerselvam would speak at a public meeting in Nagapattinam, the tail end of the delta on April 25 along with Textiles Minister OS Manian. Joint coordinator and Chief Minister Palaniswami would address a public meeting at Tiruvarur on April 28. On the same day, Deputy Lok Sabha leader M Thambidurai would attend a meeting at Karur along with propaganda deputy secretary Vaigaiselvan and Transport Minister MR Vijayabaskar. Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar would speak at Ariyalur on April 25, while Electricity Minister P Thangamani would address a joint meeting in Thanjavur along with AIADMK deputy coordinator R Vaithilingam and Agriculture Minister R Duraikannu.