All decisions in the interest of the people: TN deputy CM

The tweet from O Panneerselvam comes in the wake of speculations that AIADMK would soon announce its Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2021 assembly polls.

Chennai: Ruling AIADMK's coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Monday tweeted that all his decisions were in the interest of the people of Tamil Nadu and the party cadres and it would continue to be so.

The tweet comes in the wake of speculations that AIADMK would soon announce its Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2021 assembly polls.

A power struggle is on in AIADMK between Panneerselvam and Joint Coordinator and Chief Minister K Palaniswami and attempts are being made to come out with an amicable solution.

"Whatever had happened had happened very well. Whatever is happening is also happening very well. Whatever has to happen will happen very well," said Panneerselvam in the tweet quoting Bhagavad Gita.

In the tweet, Panneerselvam seems to be referring to his revolt against the then General Secretary V K Sasikala by breaking away and securing the party from the hands of her family. He seems to imply that his insistence on setting up a steering committee for guiding the party is also the welfare of the party.

And he talks in riddles as to whatever has to happen will happen well.

At the recent meeting of the Executive Committee of the party, the issue of announcing the Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2021 assembly elections was raised.
There were heated exchanges between the supporters of Panneerselvam and Palaniswami. Panneerselvam's demand is to set up a steering committee to guide the party as per the earlier agreement.

All these years Palaniswami was not consenting to set up the steering committee and Panneerselvam remained silent. After the party's Executive Committee meeting, Deputy Coordinator K P Munusamy told reporters that the party's Chief Ministerial candidate will be announced on October 7 by Panneerselvam and Palaniswami.

"There will not be any change in the current set up. The status quo will continue. The party will face the elections with Palaniswami heading the caretaker government while Panneerselvam stays party coordinator," a senior party official who did not want to be identified told IANS.

Political analyst Kolahala Srenivaas, wondering the reason for Panneerselvam raking up the steering committee issue, said: "As per my information, a consensus is being reached on setting up a steering committee. Panneerselvam wants a representation of all major castes in the committee."

IANS