Sasikala's removal may not end the protracted political crisis in the ruling AIADMK that began soon after Jayalalithaa's demise last year as the dispute over her appointment is still pending with the EC
The unified AIADMK on Tuesday sacked incarcerated party interim general secretary VK Sasikala, a close aide of late Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, from the post and set up a steering committee to lead the party amid the threat from ousted party deputy GS TTV Dinakaran to pull down the Edappadi K Palanisami government. Sasikala's removal may not end the protracted political crisis in the ruling AIADMK that began soon after Jayalalithaa's demise last year as the dispute over her appointment is still pending with the Election Commission.
Declaring late Jayalalithaa as eternal general secretary of the party, the general council of AIADMK, the party's top decision-making body, decided to do away with the all powerful general secretary post and transferred all the key powers to deputy CM O Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisami, who will be the coordinator and joint coordinator of the steering committee.
The general council meeting, which was attended by 98 per cent of the 2300-odd members.
It was held in Vanagaram on Tuesday, a day after Madras High Court refused to stay the meet on a plea made by Dinakaran supporter and MLA P Vetrivel. The HC made it clear all the decisions taken in the meeting are subject to the final verdict.
"The appointment of Sasikala as interim general secretary stands cancelled. All the decisions taken by her between December 30 and February 15, including appointments, sackings and inclusions are invalid," declared a resolution moved by Rajya Sabha R Vaithilingam and seconded by all the general council members.
The resolution in effect annuls the appointment of her nephew Dinakaran to the post of deputy general secretary as well. Sasikala was appointed to the post on December 29 by the party's general council following the demise of Jayalalithaa on December 5 2016.
Altogether 12 resolutions — including one ratifying the merger of the two factions, resolving to retrieve the party's two leaves symbol frozen by the Election Commission and to permit the office bearers appointed by Jayalalithaa to continue holding their posts – were adopted at the council meeting.
Rejecting the resolutions, Dinakaran said only his aunt or he could convene the council meeting and termed the meeting illegal. He also threatened to bring down the Palanisami government.
RESOLUTIONS
- A total of 12 resolutions were adopted at the council meeting. Dinakaran, however, has rejected them and threatened to bring down the Palanisami government
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