The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu post-merger of its two major factions has resolved to remove V K Sasikala from the post of its interim General Secretary. The merged entity’s first General Body meeting was held at Vanagaram near Chennai today. A resolution has been passed to remove the long-time aide of late leader J Jayalalithaa from the party’s top most post.
It has also been decided to scrap the General Secretary post altogether and to function unitedly with the nominees of late Jayalalithaa functioning in their respective positions. However, the resolution seeks to justify the move saying only the memories of late Jayalalithaa could be visualized as the occupant of the General Secretary post.
The nomination of TTV Dhinakaran as its Deputy General Secretary and all the appointments and actions made by him have also been sought to be nullified. Other resolutions passed in the apex decision making body of the AIADMK post-merger include to retrieve the party name and its ‘two-leaves’ symbol that were impounded by the Election Commission following deep divisions after the death of party’s charismatic leader Jayalalithaa.
Organizing the party founder MG Ramachandran’s centenary year celebrations across the state by the government and its decision to construct a memorial in honour of late Jayalalithaa at her mausoleum have been hailed by the party General Body. It also lauded what it claims drought relief measures on a war footing by the Government.
The removal of Ms VK Sasikala from the AIADMK’s top post has been on expected lines, as it was one of the key demands for the merger of the Panneerselvam faction with the Edappadi Palaniswamy camp. A resolution in today’s meet seeks to amend the party bye-laws to scrap the General Secretary post altogether and instead function under a panel of leaders. Its decision to restore the positions of those who were nominated in the party by late leader Jayalalithaa seeks to effectively seal the political prospects of Ms Sasikala and her clan in the party.
It is more so, as the appointments of Ms Sasikala and her nephew and warring leader TTV Dhinakaran were made only after the demise of late Jayalalithaa. As another leaf has been turned in the chequered history of the party today, the next move by the Dhinakaran camp is being awaited, as observers say it is set to have its own ripple effects.
