A day after acrimonious AIADMK executive meeting, the party coordinator and Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam skipped a meeting chaired by Chief Minister K Palaniswami on COVID-19, and was closeted with a section of leaders on Tuesday. This is being seen as an important development given the fact that just a day before the two leaders crossed swords over who should lead the party in the 2021 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam was expected to participate in the review meeting as he usually attends the meeting at the Secretariat. On Tuesday, he skipped the meeting and instead held a discussion with his supporters at his residence.
O. Panneerselvam’s supporters Manoj Pandian, party deputy Co-Conveners Munuswamy, Vaidhyalingam met him and the meeting went on till late in the noon and another supporter of OPS MLA Manikandan met him at his residence after other supporters left.
AIADMK deputy Co-Convener Vaidhiyalingam, who addressed the media after meeting OPS at this residence, said that “there is no confusion in the party and it is sure AIADMK will come to power again.”
Earlier in the meeting on Monday, when the important ministers and other EPS supporters wanted the council to announce the party’s CM candidate, team OPS objected to the demand saying that an 11-member steering committee should be formed before the announcement of the CM Candidate.
During the meeting, EPS and OPS exchanged heated arguments about the CM candidate and party insiders say that OPS has reportedly said that he accepted to be the deputy chief minister only for this term.
Political observers say that OPS has not given up his chief ministerial ambitions and hectic parley is expected in the following days between both factions before announcing the CM Candidate on 7th October.
Following this development at the OPS residence, Minister for Municipal Administration, S.P Velumani met the Chief Minister at his residence late in the evening to discuss the developments.