With months left for the 2021 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, the rift between two factions of the ruling AIADMK have widened further. Differences between AIADMK factions led by EPS and OPS couldn’t be resolved even after a high-level party meet.
File photo of Tamil Nadu Deputy CM O Panneerselvam (right) and CM Edappadi K Palaniswami (left) (Image: PTI)
With months left for the 2021 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, the rift between two factions of the ruling AIADMK have widened further. Things are said to be not too well after Friday’s high-level committee meeting called by O Panneerselvam, which was held at the AIADMK headquarters.
According to sources, several contentious issues were raised and notable among them was OPS’ demand for an 11-member steering committee to take all party decisions. Though this was one of the major demands that OPS had put forward during the time of the merger, it is yet to be fulfilled.
It is also being said that OPS wanted the post of party general secretary, a post which was abolished during the merger of the EPS-OPS factions.
On the other hand, several ministers such as CV Shanmugam pointed out the dominance of two castes (Gounders and Thevars) in the cabinet and demanded equal representation for others.
Meanwhile, the E Palanisawmi camp has said that if a steering committee is formed, it would lead to several other problems as each member will have a different opinion and the indecisiveness would hurt the party ahead of elections.
With the high-level committee meeting remaining inconclusive, EPS and OPS has called for an executive committee meeting on September 28 to address these issues.
After the committee meeting, several ministers held another meeting with EPS at his residence to discuss the new developments.
AIADMK ministers have meanwhile attempted to water down the differences that surfaced in the high-level party meeting on Friday. Minister RB Udayakumar said that both EPS and OPS are united like Ram and Lakshman. Minister Jayakumar has said that there are no differences between leaders in the party.