AIADMK power tussle: Team OPS to knock SC doors on September 5

CHENNAI: In the latest turn of events in the AIADMK power tussle, AIADMK leader and former chief minister O Panneerselvam will be moving the Supreme Court on September 5 against the Madras High Court order approving the validity of the appointment of Edappadi K Palaniswami as the party's interim general secretary and of the resolutions adopted at the July 11 General Council meeting.

Following another judicial setback for team OPS, the three-time chief minister has decided to take up the party's leadership struggle to the apex court on Monday, September 5.

On the party leadership dispute, the Madras High Court earlier on Friday, allowed Palaniswami's appeal and set aside an earlier order in favour of Panneerselvam. A division bench comprising Justices M Duraiswamy and Sundar Mohan set aside an order of a single judge, which nullified the July 11 General Council meeting of the AIADMK.

“By giving a direction that there shall be no EC meeting or GC meeting without the joint consent of the coordinator and the joint coordinator, a situation has arisen where the party, as a whole, will undergo irreparable hardship, since there is no possibility of the appellant (EPS) and the first respondent (OPS) acting jointly to convene a meeting,” the bench consisting justices K Sunder Mohan and M Duraiswamy ruled on Friday.

In that meeting held in July, leader of opposition EPS was elected as the interim general secretary of the party, the top post. Panneerselvam was ousted from the party.

As Palaniswami's position as the single, supreme leader of AIADMK is strengthened with this fresh court order, OPS said that he would appeal to the Supreme Court.