Chennai, Aug 1 (BPNS)
Political speculations are rife in Tamil Nadu after estranged interim general secretary of the AIADMK and close aide of former Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa, V.K. Sasikala met senior party leader Panruti Ramachandran at his residence in Ashok Nagar, Chennai. Panruti Ramachandran was a minister in the cabinet of M.G. Ramachandran.
After meeting Sasikala the statement of Ramachandran was significant and he said, “It does not matter as to who the general secretary of the party is but on whom people are placing confidence.”
He also said that it was a question to be confabulated on what benefit the party had through a unitary leadership and was also dismissive of the selection of former Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami becoming the interim general secretary of the party. He said,” All these interim are temporary and not permanent.:
The statement of Panruti Ramachandran has given a shot in his arms to O. Panneerselvam who is fighting a tough battle to get recognition within the AIADMK and among the cadres. Sasikala meeting the veteran leader is considered a political move on the behest of O. Panneerselvam.
In another political development, TTV Dhinakaran, nephew of Sasikala and general secretary of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) attended a programme of O. Panneerselvam(ops) supporters at Theni, the fiefdom of OPS.
AIADMK leaders led by former Theni district secretary and close associate of OPS, Syed Khan gave a warm welcome to TTV Dhinakaran leading to speculations that the AIADMK rebels and AMMK might work together.
It may be noted that Syed Khan while being the district secretary of the AIADMK had passed a resolution in support of reinstating former interim general secretary, V.K. Sasikala into the AIADMK fold. The resolution was passed in a farmhouse owned by OPS.
The meetings of Sasikala and Dhinakaran with some senior leaders of the AIADMK have raised speculations on the future alignments and realignments in AIADMK.
It may be recalled that in the July 11 general council meeting of the party that expelled O. Panneerselvam (OPS) and his close associates and anointed Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) as general secretary, the EPS faction had a brutal majority with 2300 of the 2400 members.
Political observers however argue that the general council was an elected body and that it does not reflect the mood of the cadres.
Dr. R. Padmanabhan, Director, Socio-Economic Development Foundation, a think tank based out of Madurai while speaking to BPNS said, “ The general council majority cannot be considered as a barometer for the popularity of a leader. If that was so, then the legendary Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, late M.G. Ramachandran would have been in oblivion now. He was expelled from DMK with a brute majority in the general council. What happened, he floated AIADMK and it crushed DMK in the ensuing elections. Hence we can’t fathom the popularity of a leader through general council, especially in regional political parties.”
With Sasikala and Dhinakaran meeting AIADMK leaders separately and fanning up support base, the possibilities of a realignment of forces in the opposition camp cannot be ruled out in the days to come.
