CHENNAI: The rift between the Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam factions of the AIADMK that has witnessed several tussles at various forums took a new turn on Saturday as the former Minister and Party Organisational Secretary D Jayakumar approached the Director General of Police to seek police intervention in stopping the Panneerselvam group from using the party flag and ‘two leaves’ symbol.
Jayakumar, in his letter to the DGP, wanted the police to take action against members of the Panneerselvam faction for using the party flag and two leaves symbol that belonged to the AIADMK, whose leader was Palaniswami who had won several cases to get the recognition.
Since Panneerselvam and two of his acolytes were expelled from the AIADMK on July 11, 2022, in a general council meeting he was no longer a member of the party and had no right to use the flag or symbol. He referred to the Election Commission of India (ECI) filing a case against the Panneerselvam faction candidate for the Karnataka Assembly elections for misrepresentation over the party symbol.
He recalled the various cases that Palaniswami had won to gain the legitimacy to be the leader of the AIADMK and also the one to hold control over the party headquarters, Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Maligai, on Avvai Shanmugham Salai, to establish that Panneerselvam was ‘wilfully, dishonestly and fraudulently representing himself as the member of the AIADMK party.’
Accusing Panneerselvam of misleading and deceiving the members of the public and tarnishing the image of the AIADMK, Jayakumar wanted the police to take action against Panneerselvam and those associated with him and not to harass the real cadre of AIADMK.
