Chennai: The united AIADMK today scrapped the post of general secretary in the party, announcing that its former chief J Jayalalithaa will be the "eternal general secretary". The move also officially ended the primacy of VK Sasikala -- Jayalalithaa's long-time live-in aide who had taken over the party chief's post after her death in December - and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran. The decisions, however, are subject to the approval of the Madras High Court, which gave a green signal to the meeting yesterday, dismissing a petition from Sasikala loyalists to put it on hold. Eighteen lawmakers loyal to Sasikala are skipping the meeting.
Here are the 10 updates in this big political story:
Here are the 10 updates in this big political story:
- Sources in AIADMK said the meeting - which is being attended by around 2,000 members -- will ratify the merger between the factions led by Chief Minister E Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam, which happened last month after long and bitter negotiations. It will also ratify Deputy Chief Minister OPS as the chief of the 11-member steering committee of the party.
- The expulsion of VK Sasikala was one of the key demands of the faction led by Jayalalithaa loyalist O Palaniswami, who had rebelled earlier this year after VK Sasikala forced him to step down from the Chief Minister's post.
- After former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's death in December, VK Sasikala, her long-time live-in aide, had taken over the party. Mr Panneerselvam, who had filled in for Jayalalithaa as Chief Minister on several occasions, had taken over the top post in the government.
- Under the terms of the merger, Mr Pannerselvam, who had been the Chief Minister before Mr Palaniswami, was made his deputy -- the key party post for him was seen as balancing out the comedown.
- TTV Dhinakaran, who has been making an all-out effort to claw back to power, claims to have the support 19 lawmakers and has sided with the opposition DMK to demand that Chief Minister Palaniswami face a trust vote.
- DMK leader MK Stalin, who met the Governor on Sunday, says together with Mr Dhinakaran, they have 119 legislators. The halfway mark in the 234-member assembly since the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa stands at 117.
- The united AIADMK says they have the support of nine lawmakers from the Dhinakaran camp and hence a majority figure of 124.
- TTV Dinakaran has said they want the Chief Minister to resign, "otherwise we will not hesitate to bring down the EPS government".
- Yesterday, a lawmaker in his camp filed a petition in the Madras High court asking that the General Council meet today be put on hold.
- The court dismissed the petition, but said any decision by the General Council will be subject to its decision, which may be announced during the next hearing on October 23.