Chennai: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has appealed to party functionaries not to sign any documents seeking to convene the party’s general council.
The development comes after the party’s setback in the Assembly elections, following which former ministers S P Velumani and C V Shanmugam led a group of 25 MLAs to extend support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government. Palaniswami is said to have the backing of 22 MLAs, deepening the split within the AIADMK.
Both factions have submitted letters to Speaker J C T Prabhakar seeking recognition for their respective nominees as legislature party leader and whip.
Amid the tussle, Palaniswami has removed several office-bearers—including 11 MLAs who are said to have moved to the Velumani camp—from district secretary posts and appointed new functionaries. He also held consultations with supporting party leaders at his Chennai residence, attended by former ministers R B Udhayakumar and K P Munusamy.
According to party sources, the Velumani faction has been collecting signatures from executive committee members, general council members and union secretaries to convene the general council. Palaniswami asked his supporters not to sign and to prevent the other side from obtaining signatures. The meeting also discussed moving the High Court if the Speaker does not recognise Palaniswami as legislature party leader and Agri Krishnamurthy as whip, participants said.
