EPS Vs OPS: Madras HC Dismisses Suspended AIADMK Leader Appeal

The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed the appeals filed by former Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister and suspended AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam (OPS) against K Palaniswami’s (KPS) election as the party’s provisional head during the general council meeting held in July 2022.

A division bench comprising Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Mohamed Shafiq also upheld the decision not to intervene in Panneerselvam’s expulsion from the party.

The bench rejected the appeals filed by Panneerselvam and his associates R Vaithilingam, Paul Manoj Pandian, and J C D Prabhakar. These appeals challenged a prior order by a single judge, which had declined to interfere with the resolutions passed by the AIADMK general council on July 11, 2022.

The AIADMK’s general council serves as the party’s highest authority for decision-making. During that time, the party passed several resolutions, including the election of Palaniswami as the interim general secretary and the expulsion of his rival Panneerselvam and his supporters. This marked the culmination of a power struggle between the two leaders.

Subsequently, in March of this year, Palaniswami was formally elected as the general secretary, occupying the highest position within the AIADMK.

Currently, the AIADMK functions as the principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu, with Palaniswami holding the position of Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly.