AIADMK leadership row: SC asks Madras HC to determine OPS faction plea against party meet, orders establishment

The Supreme Court on July 29 forwarded to the Madras supreme court a plea filed by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam against his expulsion from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in an exceedingly recent general council meeting.

A Bench led by magistrate of India N.V. Ramana asked the state supreme court to look at the problems raised by Mr. Panneerselvam in three weeks.

"We deem it necessary that rather than keeping the matter here, we are going to remand the touch the court for fresh consideration without being influenced by the orders gone along us. We request the state supreme court to get rid of the matter within a period of three weeks,” the Bench ordered.

The Bench ordered the parties, including Edappadi K Palaniswami, who was elected because the interim general secretary of the AIADMK in its general council meeting remained July 11, to take care of established order for now.

During the hearing, senior advocate Guru Krishnakumar, for Mr. Panneerselvam, said “extreme decisions” were taken within the general council meet.

“They have expelled me. they need removed me from the post of the treasurer and abolished the post," Mr. Krishnakumar submitted.

The Supreme Court had on July 6 stayed a Madras supreme court order restraining the AIADMK General Council from taking any decision on the party's leadership question. This had signalled the turning of the tide against Mr. Panneerselvam and in favour of his former party colleague Mr. Palaniswami, also a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Palaniswami, represented by advocate Balaji Srinivasan, had accused Mr. Panneerselvam of committing "vexatious and prejudicial acts" to bring the AIADMK party's functioning to a "standstill". He had accused Mr. Panneerselvam of initiating court proceedings "so that the meeting won't act and also the party cadre won't be able to express their intention"