After the Madras high court cleared the decks, the General Council of the AIADMK today unanimously elected Edapaddi Palaniswami (EPS) as the interim General Secretary of the party, paving the way of the restoration of the unitary leadership in the party.
Also a resolution was passed to remove O Pannerselvam and his supporters from the AIADMK for anti-party activities.
The meeting also abolished the posts of Coordinator and co-Coordinator, as the amendments to the party bye-laws made in the December 2021 executive meeting electing Palaniswami and O.Panneerselvam as Co-coordinator and Coordinator, was not ratified in the earlier General Council held on June 23.
The meeting made amendments to the party bye-laws and also created a new post of Deputy General Secretary. However, no names were proposed.
Moving the resolution, former Minister R.B.Udhayakumar said the need for single leadership–reverting back to the days of MGR and J.Jayalalithaa–was the compulsion of time and a strong leadership was needed to effectively take on the ruling DMK.
The resolution electing Palaniswami as the interim General Secretary was greeted with thunderous applause.
It also said election to the Post of General Secetary will be held in four months.
Panneerselvam, who had filed a suit in the High court opposing single leadership and favoured continuance of dual leadership, did not attend the meeting.