Tamil Nadu: Loyalist backs O Panneerselvam over VK Sasikala entry remark – Times of India

CHENNAI: Days after AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam asserted that the party headquarters office bearers would decide on the reinduction of V K Sasikala into the party, his supporter and party organising secretary J C D Prabhakar on Wednesday said there was nothing wrong in what he said about the close-aide of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.
MGR’s grandson and AIADMK MGR youth wing deputy secretary G Ramachandran joined in, saying the party was being steered efficiently by the dual leadership and other leaders should stay calm instead of speaking to journalists and creating disorder. “The leadership will talk to the district secretaries, MLAs and others to decide (on taking Sasikala back into the party) and that will be an appropriate decision,” said Ramachandran.
Meanwhile, Prabhakar said at no time had OPS stated that Sasikala should be re-inducted and given a position in the AIADMK. “There is no request to the party high command so far to re-induct her. We have not been called for a discussion. A decision could be arrived at only when a meeting is convened, and the issue comes up for discussion,” Prabhakar said.
He ruled out any differences between Panneerselvam and party joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami. OPS himself had clarified that he was against the party in the hands of a family or an individual. Prabhakar was instrumental in the merger of the erstwhile factions of OPS and EPS in 2017.
The former Villivakkam MLA said media interaction by a few leaders after OPS’s remarks caused anguish and this could be avoided.
“What is wrong in having a discussion? OPS had only referred to a discussion being held on whether Sasikala could be taken in or not and that a decision could be arrived at based on the interaction. I am clarifying this here as there shouldn’t be any wrong impression that OPS was supporting a section,” Prabhakar said.
He said OPS only wanted the party to stay united and that sentiments of cadres should be respected. EPS supporters, including former minister D Jayakumar and party deputy coordinator K P Munusamy had reacted, recalling OPS’s earlier hard stand against Sasikala.