EPS again rules out allowing OPS back into AIADMK despite his public plea

SALEM/THENI: Hours after expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam publicly appealed for reinduction into the party, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday categorically rejected it.

EPS told reporters at Omalur in Salem that the decision to expel OPS was taken collectively by the AIADMK general council and was final. “The expulsion was not my individual decision. It was the unanimous decision of the general council members,” EPS said, making it clear that there was no scope for reconsideration. He added that the party would continue to function based on the resolutions passed by its general council.


He urged AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran to intervene and persuade EPS to allow his return to AIADMK. “When two rivals like Dhinakaran and EPS can close ranks, what stops my reunion (in AIADMK)? If it happens, it will ensure a massive victory for the party,” OPS told reporters at Theni.

OPS’ statement that the reinduction bid was only to strengthen AIADMK and bring back ‘Amma’s rule’ (J Jayalalithaa rule) failed to cut ice with EPS, who said AIADMK would anyway form the next govt. He said talks with a few more parties were underway. However, he said there were no talks with DMDK yet.

Hitting out at the DMK front, he said DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi’s recent trip to Delhi to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was a sign of confusion within the ruling alliance.He also alleged that the state had slipped into lawlessness, citing recent incidents of sexual assaults against women and guest workers on the premises of educational institutions in Chennai. He claimed there was a widespread sentiment among the people that DMK must be removed.

Responding to Kanimozhi’s criticism of AIADMK’s poll promises, EPS said DMK had not implemented even one-fourth of its own poll promises, which were drafted by her.