AIADMK general council meet underway

Chennai :  A crucial meeting of the ruling AIADMK General Council began here today amid expectations that it could take a call on the fate of party General Secretary VK Sasikala. Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his Deputy O Pannerselvam were among those who were present at today’s meeting of the decision-making body, the first since the death of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s last year.

It is also the first after the unification of the two camps led by the Chief Minister and Panneerselvam. Earlier, a cloud of uncertainty had hung over today’s meeting as the Dhinakaran faction had moved the Madras High Court seeking a stay on it. The court had upheld an order of a single judge dismissing a plea to stay the AIADMK general council and executive committee meeting convened by Chief Minister K Palaniswami-led faction.

The meeting of the AIADMK Executive committee, prior to the General Council, was underway at a marriage hall near here. The General Council and Executive are expected to discuss issues including the future of Sasikala in the party. Post the unification of the two camps, Dhinakaran and Palaniswami have been at loggerheads, with 19 MLAs owing allegiance to the former, meeting Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and seeking removal of Palaniswami, on August 22.