Former CM Palaniswami elected leader of AIADMK legislature party

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will be the Leader of Opposition in the 16th Tamil Nadu Assembly after he was elected as the leader of AIADMK Legislature Party despite strong objection from party coordinator O Panneerselvam.

It is understood that Panneerselvam left the party headquarters in a hurry after Palaniswami was elected as the leader of the AIADMK legislators. He did not even wait for the customary group photograph clicked at the end of the legislative party meeting.

However, a statement from the AIADMK said Palaniswami was “unanimously” elected leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party. Interestingly, the statement had signatures of both Panneerselvam and EPS in their capacities as coordinator and joint coordinator of the party respectively.

Palaniswami, sources said, was supported by almost 60 of the 66 legislators who won the April 6 elections, though Panneerselvam opposed the candidature of the former chief minister. As Palaniswami continued to remain defiant, Panneerselvam proposed the name of former Speaker P Dhanapal, who hails from western Tamil Nadu, much like the former Chief Minister.

“Nothing was acceptable to Palaniswami camp except the leader of Opposition post to them. As almost 60 MLAs supported Palaniswami, it was decided that he will be the Opposition leader. Panneerselvam was visibly upset at being snubbed and left the hall where the meeting was taking place,” a legislator told DH.

Monday's meeting was second in three days as there was no consensus on the issue in the first sitting on Friday. The Friday meeting saw angry exchange of words between Palaniswami and Panneerselvam as both staked the claim for the post.

Palaniswami, whose position in the AIADMK is a notch below that of Panneerselvam's, wanted to be the leader of Opposition as he had pulled off the party's best performance in a losing election. Also, his camp pointed out in the legislative party meetings that the AIADMK has scored the maximum number of seats from the western region, and therefore, Palaniswami was the natural choice.

However, the open display of animosity between the two top leaders of AIADMK has upset party leaders. “This is bad optics for the party, especially as it comes just a week after the election drubbing. The cadres who are already upset will not like this. The two leaders should sit across the table, and sort out their differences rather than fighting out in the open,” a member of the party's Steering Committee told DH.