OPS's brother expelled from AIADMK, a day after he met Sasikala

Raja’s expulsion – the second after OPS and EPS assumed joint leadership of the AIADMK – signifies the decline of Panneerselvam’s authority

Demonstrating his clout within the AIADMK yet again, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday got party coordinator O Panneerselvam to sign the marching orders of his own brother, O Raja, from the party for meeting V K Sasikala.

Raja’s expulsion – the second after OPS and EPS assumed joint leadership of the AIADMK following J Jayalalithaa’s death – signifies the decline of Panneerselvam’s authority, though he is placed a notch above in the party’s hierarchy in his capacity as a coordinator than Palaniswami, who is the joint coordinator.

The statement announcing the expulsion of Raja for violating the party discipline and “bringing disrepute” to the outfit was signed by Palaniswami and Panneerselvam. Raja’s expulsion from the AIADMK came a day after he met Sasikala in the temple town of Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi district on Friday evening and “invited” her to assume the party leadership.

The AIADMK has been expelling leaders who meet Sasikala or who spoke in favour of her after its loss in the 2021 assembly elections with the powerful faction led by Palaniswami stonewalling her re-entry into the party. However, Panneerselvam seems to be open to working with Sasikala and her nephew T T V Dhinakaran.

The expulsion also came four days after the Theni district unit of the AIADMK, which is under the control of OPS, passed a resolution in favour of reinducting Sasikala and her nephew T T V Dhinakaran into the party. This is the second time Raja is being expelled from the AIADMK by the OPS-EPS duo – he was removed from the primary membership of the party in December 2018 for his involvement in the cooperative elections through “manipulative methods.” He was also alleged to have played a role in the murder of a temple priest in the Theni district.

Reacting to his expulsion, Raja remained defiant saying Sasikala was “my leader” and questioned the powers of OPS-EPS to sack him from the party. The expulsion also came on the day Sasikala received a rousing reception in southern districts by her supporters.

AIADMK insiders said it was EPS who insisted that Raja also meet the “same fate” as others for “going against the party line” and shaking hands with Sasikala, despite “stiff resistance” from OPS. A senior leader told DH that EPS was gaining the “upper hand” in the battle against Sasikala by forcing OPS to sign the order dismissing his own brother from the party for meeting her.

“The latest development not just shows EPS demonstrating and further strengthening his clout in the AIADMK, but also Panneerselvam losing his ground. EPS remains firm on his decision on Sasikala and is unlikely to cede any space. The message that has been sent out is OPS may be the coordinator but all powers rest with EPS,” the leader said.

Another leader said OPS was “hesitating” to sign the “marching orders” of his brother but caved in to the pressure from the EPS faction which adopted a “tough stance” on the issue.

“OPS was resisting the pressure. He gave in after a former minister who sided with him during his rebellion against Sasikala conveyed EPS’ decision to go ahead with the sacking at any cost. He had to accept to avoid any further public embarrassment,” the leader said.

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