Crisis blows over, OPS names EPS as CM pick for 2021 polls

It’s official. Incumbent Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was on Wednesday named AIADMK’s Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, when the State’s largest party, sans its charismatic leader J Jayalalithaa, will run for a third consecutive term at Fort St. George. This ended the brewing crisis triggered by differences between him and his deputy O Panneerselvam over the leadership issue, at least for now.

The announcement was made by AIADMK convenor and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who conceded the position in exchange for a steering committee of his choice to guide the party in making policy decisions.

Accepting the demand of party coordinator OPS, his deputy EPS announced the setting up of a 11-member steering committee to guide the party in the upcoming polls. The members of the steering committee include Forest Minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan, Local Administration Minister SP Velumani, Electricity Minister P Thangamani, Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar and Food Minister R Kamaraj. The party also included former MPs Manoj Pandian and R Gopalakrishnan. Former minister P Mohan, former MLA J C D Prabhakar and legislator C Manickam are also part of the committee.

The announcement of the CM candidate was expected last month during the party executive committee (EC) meeting, but party convenor OPS made sure that he agreed on the terms of CM Palaniswami, only if a steering committee was formed to advise the party on political issues.

The EC also witnessed a heated exchange of words between the supporters of Panneerselvam and Palaniswami. Followed by week-long parleys between the sulking leaders, the issue was finally resolved on Wednesday. AIADMK presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan told AIADMK supporters that there will not be any major change in the party set up and the same status quo will continue till the 2021 elections.

He also urged the cadre to work for victory in the upcoming polls. Putting an end to speculations that faction problems might continue, EPS later in the day called on OPS at his residence to thank him for announcing his name as the party’s CM candidate.

While a set of leaders in AIADMK allies welcomed the decision of announcing incumbent Edappadi K Palaniswami, as the Chief Minister candidate for the forthcoming Assembly polls, BJP leaders differ by saying that candidature can be finalised only if an alliance is confirmed.

“There was no need for AIADMK to announce Chief Minister candidate even before the election was announced. Chief Minister candidature will be decided only after the alliance is finalised”, said former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan. State BJP Secretary K Srinivasan had also supported the statement of Pon Radhakrishnan.

Parties in alliance with AIADMK welcomed the announcement. “It is good for the party to solve the differences of party leadership. The announcement shows the confidence in the party and it is an opportunity for alliance parties to face the election with the same confidence”, said Tamil Manila Congress leader GK Vasan.

Kongu Ilaingar Peravai leader U Thaniyarasu said that the next step for the party is to move towards single leadership. “I (Thaniyarasu) extend my wishes for Palaniswami for the Chief Ministerial candidate and I also wish Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for announcing Palaniswami as the Chief Minister candidate. However, it is time for the party to move towards a strong single leadership which I think will happen around January”, said Thaniyarasu.

DMK president MK Stalin responded to the consensus reached between EPS and OPS and said the squabbling AIADMK leaders have come together to engage in corruption in remaining six months of regime.

Addressing party workers of Kallakurichi through video call, Stalin said, “They have come together to engage in corruption in the remaining six months of the AIADMK regime. Remarking that no governance had happened in the state in the last four years, Stalin said, “Only the AIADMK party was run from Fort St George during the period. First, O Panneerselvam and Sasikala quarreled. Then, Edappadi Palaniswami and OPS did. Then EPS and Sasikala quarreled. Again EPS and OPS quarreled. Only this has been happening in Tamil Nadu during the last four years.”