Chennai: Though Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has emerged the winner in the Chief Minister race, political observers say Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who was competing for the top post, is no loser.
“He continues to be the coordinator of the party, which means he is its head. Moreover, his long pending demand of forming a steering committee has been fulfilled. So, it is a win-win deal for both,” says Krishnan S, a political analyst.
As per the agreement worked out, the steering committee contained six members from the Chief Minister’s side and five from Panneerselvam’s side, on the lines of what was agreed upon at the time of the merger of the two factions in 2017.
Meanwhile, asked why seniors like K A Sengottaiyan were not inducted into the steering committee, deputy coordinator of the party R Vaithilingam said, “Already he has some key posts including organising secretary. But many more opportunities are there for others like election committee etc.”.
After the announcements, Palaniswami and Panneerselvam accompanied by all Ministers and functionaries visited the memorials of former Chief Ministers MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa and paid their respects.
In the evening, Palaniswami called on Panneerselvam at the latter’s residence and thanked him for announcing him as the party’s Chief Minister candidate.