Chennai: In a move aimed at stymieing his rival EPS' game plan to be the sole leader of the AIADMK, OPS on Saturday announced that his faction will also enter the fray. Not stopping with this, he went on a mission, meeting the leaders of the BJP and other allies to enlist their support, raising the political temperature.
Adding a twist, OPS also said his faction would support the BJP if the saffron party wanted to contest the bypoll, coming ahead of the LS election in 2024 This comes a day after the EPS faction, managed to secure the consent of the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), which had lost the seat in 2021, to withdraw from the contest in its favour.
Ever since Wednesday, when the Election Commission came out with the notification for the February 27 bypoll, none of the allies had consulted OPS. TMC president GK Vasan, MP, had met EPS which was followed by a delegation of EPS faction holding talks with the former. BJP state president K Annamalai too said he had spoken to both EPS and Vasan. Also, Vasan is non-committal on support to OPS.
As per convention, the TMC, which unsuccessfully fought last time on the AIADMK symbol, should have the opportunity to contest this time as well. On the other hand, the ruling DMK, heading the Secular Progressive Alliance, has given it to the Congress and launched the campaign in support of its ally though the candidate is yet to be announced.
Allies of the AIADMK sidestepping OPS is because the Erode East seat comes under western Tamil Nadu or the Kongu belt, considered a stronghold of EPS, who also belongs to the dominant OBC Goundar community of the region. OPS hails from south Tamil Nadu where his OBC Thevar community has been a support base of the AIADMK. Rattled by this development, OPS has decided to torpedo his rival's strategy.
“We have every right to contest on the party's 'Two Leaves' symbol. As per the records of the Election Commission, I am the AIADMK Coordinator. In December 2021, myself and Palaniswami were elected by the 1.5 crore party cadre as Coordinator and Joint-Coordinator for a term up to 2026. As such, we have the sole right over the party symbol,” he told newspersons, adding “We are prepared to fight the election on an independent symbol allotted by the EC if we could not get the party symbol.”
However, he struck a conciliatory note saying, “We are also for unity of the AIADMK and open for talks. I am ready to sign the nomination forms seeking the Two Leaves symbol. It is up to Palaniswami to sign it or not.” After the demise of Jayalalithaa and the expulsion of her confidant VK Sasikala and her nephew, TTV Dhinakaran from the AIADMK, the party had opted for the dual leadership of OPS (coordinator) and EPS (joint coordinator).
However, after the electoral rout in 2021 assembly polls, the party general council in July last had elevated EPS as interim general secretary and expelled OPS, resulting in the split. OPS challenging his expulsion and the general council as illegal is pending before the supreme court. Having met Vasan in the morning, Team-OPS called on the BJP leaders in the evening.
Subsequently, leaders from the EPS faction too had a meeting with the saffron party leadership. BJP state general secretary R Srinivasan, expressing happiness at OPS holding talks with party leaders, however, said, “it was up to OPS to contest or not. It is not a surprise that he has reached out to the BJP for talks. Since both the factions are keen to enter the fray, Annamalai will take a call on the party's decision and our focus is to defeat the DMK led combine.”
The conciliation offer of OPS was rejected immediately by former AIADMK minister D Jayakumar of the EPS camp. “He is a loner and this is an outcome of desperation. Months have passed since he has been expelled from the AIADMK. He can contest as an independent,” said the former minister who is leading the talks with the allies.
Echoing the same, KPMunusami, another former minister and leader of the EPS faction, said “We are not concerned about his announcement. He has been expelled from the party. As per judicial pronouncements the party functions under the leadership of EPS.”
Meanwhile, the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) is actively considering putting up a nominee in this bypoll and a decision on this will be made on coming Friday, party chief of TTV Dhinakaran had said. With a divided opposition, the contest appears to be loaded in favour of the Congress. The seat fell vacant due to the demise of E Thirumahan Everaa, son of veteran Congress leader EVKS Elangovan. Now, his other son Sanjay Sampath is likely to be fielded, say party sources.
