OPS sets stage for elections, asks ministers to resign for party work at AIADMK general council

A resolution demanding Bharat Ratna for Periyar, former Chief Minister CN Annadurai and Jayalalithaa was also passed in the EC meeting.

According to sources, Panneerselvam had told the party functionaries that party and party posts are more important to him than the ministerial berths and will always work for the success of the party.

“I am ready to resign from the ministerial post to work for the success of the party in the 2019 Parliamentary election,” said Panneerselvam.

He also asked the senior leaders to follow his path. Panneerselvam’s proposal is similar to ‘Kamaraj Plan’ adopted by former chief minister and Congress leader K Kamaraj, who asked all the senior Congress leaders to resign from the cabinet and work for the success of the party in the elections.

Sources also said that Edappadi K Palaniswami, joint convenor of the party, while delivering his address at the EC meeting, had spoken that the party was ready to face election at any point of time.

He had also said that the government is following the footsteps of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in supporting and opposing the Union government schemes as and when required.

Earlier, as soon as the Executive Council meeting commenced in the evening, tributes were paid to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former chief minister M Karunanidhi and former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee. Condolence resolution was also passed for 103 party cadre including AK Bose, former Tirupparankundram MLA, who died recently.

Condolence resolution was also passed for Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, Narayana Swami Jeeyar from Srirangam and actress Sridevi.

Resolution was also passed condoling the deaths and loss of properties in the recent flood in Kerala and Karantaka.