CHENNAI: In a move that will be embarrass Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami’s faction of the AIADMK, which is at the receiving end of accusations that it has sacrificed state interests on issues like Cauvery Management Board and NEET, the rival group’s leader O. Panneerselvam on Friday met Prime Minister Modi and insisted on the setting up of the Cauvery Management Board and exemption for Tamil Nadu from NEET.
OPS also made it clear that his support to the BJP in the Presidential elections could not be taken for granted and asserted that he had not taken any decision on the polls. He added that a decision will be taken at the appropriate time.
A day after Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin questioned why the state ministers who are visiting Delhi and meeting Union Ministers are not demanding CMB formation or waiver of crop loans to farmers, Panneerselvam submitted a memorandum containing the same demands. In an apparent dig at the rival faction, Panneerselvam said his demands were for people’s welfare and no politics was discussed. He also wanted the reservation for government doctors in higher medical education to be retrieved.
The petition also sought a CBI enquiry into the death of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. Besides, submitting a petition to Modi, the group headed by Panneerselvam also submitted a petition to President Pranab Mukherjee demanding CBI enquiry into Jayalalithaa’s death.
The demands of Panneerselvam, who was said be to strongly backed by the BJP earlier, could exert pressure on both the Centre and the rival Palanisami faction on issues of CMB and farmers plight.
The petition also came out against the Prime Minister’s key economic policies of privatisation and wanted the move to privatise Salem Steel Plant to be dropped. He also insisted on funds for the Avinashi-Athikadavu project. The demands of Salem Steel Plant and Avinashi Athikadavu project are demands of people from the Kongu belt of the Chief Minister and his supporters.
Restrain Sasi faction from using party office: OPS
In a clear indication that the merger talks have failed, former CM O. Panneerselvam on Friday knocked at the doors of the Election Commission demanding that it restrain the V.K. Sasikala faction of the AIADMK from using the party headquarters on the Avvai Shanmugam Salai in Chennai.
The OPS camp’ plea with the Election Commission comes amid a war of words between senior leaders of both the factions on several political issues.
Counsel representing the OPS faction submitted additional documents with the EC on Friday in connection with the case challenging Sasikala’s appointment as General Secretary of the AIADMK in December 2016.
“The OPS faction says since the issues between the two factions are unsettled, the AIADMK office on the Avvai Shanmugam Salai in Royapettah in Chennai and party mouthpiece ‘Namadhu MGR’ should not remain under the control of the Sasikala faction. They have called for EC’s intervention in the issue,” a senior EC official said.
A leader of the OPS faction confirmed filing the petition with the Election Commission and said since Sasikala’s appointment as general secretary is challenged, her faction should not be allowed to use the party office and the mouthpiece.
“We have requested the EC to restrain the Sasikala faction from using the office and mouthpiece till the issues between the two factions are solved,” the leader said.
