Chennai, June 10(BPNS)
Creating further trouble to the AIADMK, party’s former interim general secretary VK Sasikala has said in a leaked audio message to an AIADMK functionary that she cannot be separated from AIADMK. The specific mentioning of the name” AIADMK” in the audiotape which was released on Thursday, is contrary to the public posture taken by the AIADMK coordinator and former Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami that Sasikala in the earlier leaked tapes was not speaking to AIADMK cadres or functionaries but to the cadres of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam(AMMK) founded by her nephew TTV Dhinakaran.
The leaked audio of Sasikala assumes significance as the AIADMK legislature party meet to elect the party office bearers in the legislature like the Deputy Leader of Opposition and Chief Whip are to take place on June 14 at the party headquarters.
While Edappadi K Palaniswami was elected as the Opposition leader exactly a month ago, the post of Deputy Leader of Opposition and Chief whip was not elected owing to differences of opinion between Palaniswami and Panneerselvam, the powerful Thevar leader who was the former Deputy Chief Minister in the Palaniswami government.
Panneerselvam, according to AIADMK insiders is not interested to opt for the post of Deputy Leader of Opposition but wants to anoint one of his key supporters as the Chief Whip of the party which is a crucial post.
Sources in the AIADMK however said that Palaniswami is very much in the saddle in the party for the time being and if Sasikala crash lands into the party obviously with the support and blessings of the BJP national leadership in New Delhi, then the situation can change. Panneerselvam is not in a position to challenge the authority of Palaniswami in the party as he could not get a positive election result on his home turf thus reducing his clout within the party.
With Stalin firmly positioning himself as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and practicing inclusive politics, the AIADMK will have to rework its strategies to put up a good fight in the days to come and to prepare itself for the battle of 2024 Lok sabha elections.
