AIADMK interim chief EPS has filed his official nomination for the top party post. (file)

Chennai:

AIADMK interim chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Saturday filed nomination for election to the party’s powerful general secretary post, setting the ball rolling for his eventual elevation, as rival leader O Panneerselvan slammed the EPS camp’s “jebdar-like”. Approach rejected. Party procedure was not followed alleging that elections were held.

EPS, as Mr Palaniswami is addressed, filed his nomination at the party headquarters, nearly a month after the Supreme Court cleared his continuation as AIADMK interim chief, replacing Mr Panneerselvam (OPS) with his rival. Fought in an ongoing feud with. leadership issue.

The OPS camp condemned the election process and senior party leader Panruti S Ramachandran said they would move court over the issue, even as Mr Panneerselvam indicated he would meet people on the matter. He said that as a next step, a big convention would be held in Tiruchirappalli in early April.

Within hours of Mr. Palaniswami filing his nomination, Mr. Panneerselvam addressed a press conference, alleging that the election process was not in line with party laws.

Organizational elections are held once in five years and the highest offices are elected by the primary members. Only the elected General Secretary can subsequently hold organizational elections and appoint office bearers. Also during this period membership form has to be given for inducting new members and renewing the membership of existing members, after which identity card has to be given for both.

“Only after completion of these procedures will the election for the top post be done. There is no proper process and they want to conduct the election for the post of general secretary like a pickpocket (with one’s purse)…is this acceptable,” He asked.

The Palaniswami-led AIADMK had earlier announced the election schedule for the post of general secretary, announcing that the elections would be held on March 23.

Mr Palaniswami’s election is expected to be unanimous as the party is rallying behind him, as manifested in the General Council of July 11, 2022, where OPS and some of his associates were expelled. The GC proposals have been challenged in the Madras High Court by the OPS camp.

The OPS also took aim at its rival over his leadership potential, pointing to various electoral losses since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, including the recent Erode (East) bypoll, where the ruling coalition led by the DMK The candidate, EVKS Elangovan of INC defeated the choice of Mr. Palaniswami. Defeated KS Thennarasu by over 66,000 votes.

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