AIADMK Rebels Seek EPS Disqualification; EPS Hits Back

The party confirmed G Hari remains aligned with the rebel faction and has been discharged from party posts.

A large number of AIADMK cadres gathered at Palaniswami's residence with bouquets; newly appointed office-bearers also called on him.

Shanmugam stated that his supporting MLAs and senior leaders would not visit the AIADMK headquarters unless his group gets justice, and pledged there would be no clashes between groups.

Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Maaligai came under heavy police security cover amid rising tensions and in memory of past clashes linked to leadership disputes.

Palaniswami announced the discharge of Tiruttani MLA G Hari from party posts, including Organisation Secretary; Hari is aligned with the rebel faction.

A complaint seeking disqualification of rebel MLAs who did not vote against the government was raised with the Assembly Speaker by Palaniswami’s supporters Agri S S Krishnamurthy and Thalavai N Sundaram.

Palaniswami met with senior leaders to discuss the next steps after growing differences and cross-voting; activists and cadres supported him outside his residence.

SP Velumani asserted that they were not behind minister posts and that Amma had given them posts; he called for convening a party General Council to discuss the poll defeat.

Palaniswami claimed rivals were behind minister posts and board chiefs, alleging they sought six minister posts and 10 board chief positions and were spreading slander against him.

C Vijayabaskar, appointed as the rebel whip, said the legislature party decisions rest on majority numbers and reported that 25 MLAs followed the whip while 22 did not, including EPS; he stated they have approached the Assembly Speaker to seek disqualification under the anti-defection law.

Led by C Ve Shanmugam and SP Velumani, the rebel faction claimed they had the majority of the party's 47 MLAs and indicated actions to disqualify pro-Palaniswami MLAs under the anti-defection law.

During the floor test for the TVK government, 25 of the 47 AIADMK MLAs abided by the whip, while 22 MLAs, including Edappadi Palaniswami, did not comply. The rebel faction subsequently said they met the Assembly Speaker to seek disqualification of pro-Palaniswami MLAs under the anti-defection law.