Pro-Paneerselvam camp approaches EC against Sasikala

New Delhi: A delegation of AIADMK leaders siding with former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Thursday met Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi here to challenge V.K. Sasikala's anointment as General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu ruling party.

The 19-member delegation, led by Rajya Sabha MP V. Maitreyan, held an hour-long meeting with the poll panel chief. Maitreyan refused to speak with the media later. The delegation also included MPs K. Ashok Kumar, V. Sathyabama and P.R. Sundaram and former MP Manoj Pandian among others.

Party sources told IANS that the AIADMK leaders laid their claim on the AIADMK party with Panneerselvam as its chief. The sources said the delegation pointed out alleged illegality in the election of Sasikala as the party chief. Terming her election as unlawful, the delegation requested the poll panel to nullify her appointment as well as all the decisions she has taken as General Secretary.

The delegation argued that as per the AIDMK constitution, the General Secretary shall be elected by the primary members of the party units of Tamil Nadu, and members of party units in other states like Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The alleged, the rule was flouted in Sasikala's case.

Panneerselvam was made the Chief Minister after the December 5 death of J. Jayalalithaa. Sasikala was later appointed as the AIADMK chief. She was elected leader of the AIADMK legislature party to enable her to be the new Chief Minister. This angered Paneerselvam triggering a factional fight in the party.

Sasikala's dream to Chief Minister was shattered by the Supreme Court that sent her to jail for four years and barred her from contesting elections for 10 years after upholding her conviction in a corruption case. She however continues to be the AIADMK chief.