The renewal of old rivalries in Tamil Nadu over 'single leadership' issue

While the big political drama in Maharashtra is going on, another power tussle is unfolding down south in Tamil Nadu over the issue of “single leadership” in the main Opposition party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Two factions – one led by Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and the other by O Panneerselvam (OPS) – fought at a general council meeting on Thursday to gain control of the party, the climax of which is expected in a fresh general council scheduled for July 11.

By batting for single leadership, the EPS camp wants to bring back the powers vested in the general secretary, following the traditional formula of the party since its birth in 1972. At present, the AIADMK has no general secretary. Instead it follows a dual structure with Panneerselvam as coordinator and Palaniswami as co-coordinator. A ruling by the Madras High Court upholding the position of OPS and against any decision on unitary leadership is what restrained the party and the EPS faction from taking a decision on unitary leadership. OPS left the Thursday meeting mid-way, after facing a hostile situation.

After the meeting, Panneerselvam reportedly approached the Election Commission, stating that the July 11 meeting was decided unilaterally without his consent. According to political experts, the party is staring at a split as that may be the only option before OPS at the moment, with EPS gaining more support within the party. However, it may not be not easy either, as a breakaway faction of MLAs led by OPS may be disqualified under the anti-defection law. At present, the AIADMK has 66 MLAs and five MPs. EPS has the support of a majority of the party MLAs and district secretaries.

“Though OPS does not have much support in the party leadership, he enjoys a huge following among cadres, especially in the southern part of Tamil Nadu, while EPS has his support base in the west. The two options are: Either he will have to accept second place or form a party. This means if there is a separation, it will be along caste and regional lines,” said V Narayanan (Maalan), a political analyst and writer.

Both the leaders had reached a dual leadership formula after the death of Jayalalithaa in 2016 as a move to keep the former chief minister’s aide V K Sasikala away from the party. The rift between the leaders intensified during the Rajya Sabha polls, when OPS demanded seats for his loyalists. There is also a belief that the prominence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gaining is one of the major reasons why EPS is looking for single leadership. 

Hence there are people who see the current crisis as a chance for Sasikala to regain her position in Tamil Nadu politics.

The possibility of OPS joining hands with Sasikala and the BJP has also not been ruled out. Panneerselvam was known for leading “the Dharma Yudham” against Sasikala and her family after Jayalalitha’s death.

“The party’s split is almost certain now. EPS may emerge as the strongman in the AIADMK. However, OPS may get the support of the BJP,” said Ramu Manivannan, former head of the department of politics and public administration, University of Madras. OPS joining the BJP is ruled out as he is already in his seventies and the BJP is in the process of building a young team in the state.

An important factor that experts highlight is that none of the leaders has a mass support that Chief Minister and DMK chief M K Stalin has, and he is increasing his popularity with every passing day. “A split in the DMK means anti-DMK votes will be divided further. With the AIADMK also the strength always was single leadership -- MGR and Jayalalithaa. That may be the reason why the majority of the general council are supporting EPS’s elevation,” Narayanan added.

This is not the first time that an AIADMK general council has been hit by controversy. 

A meeting in September 1976 saw a similar difference of opinion, when the party was about to change its name from “Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam” to “Anaithinthia Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam” (All India Anna DMK). Those who were against the move were expelled.

Party loyalists still believe the two leaders may meet half-way.