OPS wants party unity despite humiliation by AIADMK leaders, says son OP Ravindranath

Theni Lok Sabha MP OP Ravindranath on Saturday said that his father and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam wants the AIADMK to unite in order to take on the might of the ruling DMK. “At the AIADMK general council meeting in Chennai, O Panneerselvam received humiliation from a number of leaders. Regardless of such insults, OPS has urged everyone to come together in order to maintain the party’s unity,” Ravindranath said.

Theni’s Lok Sabha representative added that he was open to accepting the BJP’s offer of a position in the Union Cabinet. “The BJP administration in Tamil Nadu wanted to make me a Union minister. I was also willing to accept a position in the Union Cabinet because the AIADMK hasn’t had a seat there since 1998, but Edappadi K Palaniswami spoiled the opportunity given to me by saying that if I give a ticket as a Union minister, there will be trouble within the party, so I have to give two Cabinet tickets,” Ravindranath said.

Due to the AIADMK split, the party lost its chance to win the last Assembly elections. Panneerselvam wants AIADMK to unite in order to defeat Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), he said. Panneerselvam accompanied late Jayalalithaa at all times, beginning with her appointment as general secretary and ending with her passing. In other words, OPS has grown more assured. As a result, Jayalalitha appointed OPS as Chief Minister of the state.

Earlier reacting to AIADMK expelling Ravindranath, Panneerselvam said ‘removing Ravindranath is a complete dictatorship’. “In the last General Election 2019, OP Ravindranath won and that is the only seat where AIADMK won. Removing the Theni Lok Sabha MP is a complete dictatorship,” said Pannerselvam, father of OP Ravindranath.

On Wednesday, OPS paid floral tribute to former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at Jaya Memorial in Chennai. On the same day, the Madras High Court, in the case of the AIADMK General Council meeting, ruled in favour of OPS.

Justice G Jayachandran of Madras High Court ordered in the favour of Panneerselvam, which meant that the election of Edappadi K Palaniswami as an interim general secretary during the July 11 general council meeting will not be valid. The court also ordered the conduct of a fresh general council meeting of the AIADMK.

Paneerselvam had questioned the legality and violation of bylaws in convening the AIADMK General Council meeting.