AMN /
The high voltage power struggle between two rival factions of the ruling AIADMK is deepening in Tamil Nadu,with both the factions announcing removal of key functionaries from the party. The AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala has removed senior leader E.Madhusudanan from the post of presidium chairman and also from the primary membership of the party. Mr Madhusudhanan recently defected to the O.Panneerselvam camp, sharply criticising Ms Sasikala’s functioning.
Today’s action is regarded as a reaction to his switching loyalties. Meanwhile, Mr Madhusudhanan, flanked by Mr Panneerselvam, has said Ms Sasikala is only a nominated general secretary who has no power to make any fresh appointments or remove anyone from the party. He claimed, Ms Sasikala has been removed from the party, adding a General Secretary would very soon be elected by its grass root level workers in a duly held election.
Meanwhile, the opposition DMK working president M K Stalin met Governor Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan. He was flanked by the party senior leaders Duraimurigan, AV Velu and Ponmudi. He later told media, he has insisted Governor to facilitate immediately holding voting on the floor of the House to prove majority by the contesting camps of the ruling party, by following constitutional provisions.
Earlier in the day, Governor Vidyasagar Rao held discussions with the state Director General of Police for long in Raj Bhavan about the prevailing situation in the state, who were later joined by the Chief Secretary.
Meanwhile, two habeas corpus petitions were lodged in the Madras High Court by petitioners today, seeking to present their
respective MLAs before the court. The relative of the MLA of Krishnarayapuram seat in Karur district and a voter of Kunnam seat in Perambalur district filed the cases saying they are inaccessible since the AIADMK MLAs meet held recently. The Government pleader said there is no force being exerted on any of the ruling party MLAs and sought two weeks to respond. The bench consisting of Justices CT Selvam and T Mathivaanan directed to issue notices to the state Government and the police to file reply and posted the case for further hearing on Monday.
Since the political storm gripped Tamil Nadu due to the explosive revelations of acting chief minister O.Panneerselvam against the party general secretary VK Sasikala on Tuesday, the state administrative machinery is caught in a quandary. Fort St George that accommodates the Assembly and the state Secretariat in Chennai used to be busy with thousands of footfalls every day. But it wears a gloomy outlook now, devoid of visitors. No major decision is being taken in various departments by officials who are waiting for the dust to settle after the installation of a new government.