All not well between OPS and EPS? Talks of fissures in AIADMK after 'symbol' victory

Days after the Election Commission recognised the ruling unified faction under Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and his Deputy CM O Panneerselvam as the AIADMK and allocated them the Two Leaves symbol, fissures seem to have now emerged in the party with Panneerselvam supposedly skipping a party event.

The conspicuous absence of Panneerselvam in an event in Madurai to celebrate the retrieval of the symbol has triggered talks of growing differences in the ruling party.

OPS loyalist Aspire Swaminathan, member of the AIADMK's IT wing, expressed his displeasure at the event organised on Saturday to celebrate the retrieval of the symbol, pointing out that no invite was sent out to anyone. "Minister has announced success meet to celebrate retrieval of the symbol today. They will hoist party flag in a grand manner. There is no invite or information about these celebrations to anyone," he tweeted.

The banners and posters erected across the city did not mention the name of Panneerselvam. Besides, Palanisami, after hoisting the party flag, unveiled a plaque that did not have Panneerselvam's name. His supporters saw this as an attempt to sideline him.

Swaminathan's post came in the wake of another OPS loyalist and Rajya Sabha MP V Maitreyan expressing his concern over the differences in the unified party. "It has been three months since the EPS, OPS factions merged. Months have gone, but have the hearts synced," he asked in a Facebook post.

On Saturday, Maitreyan who made a sudden visit to Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Banwarilal Purohit, said there was no information about the event to celebrate the retrieval of the symbol to the OPS supporters. "I don't know whether Panneerselvam or party deputy coordinator KP Munnusamy were invited or not. But I can tell you Madurai MP Gopalakrishnan and Madurai South MLA SS Saravanan were not informed about the event. Both of them are OPS supporters," he told reporters. He expressed hope that OPS and EPS would ensure that no such incidents happen in the future.

The growing differences in the ruling AIADMK might impact the outcome of the December 21 RK Nagar bypoll. Already, the principal opposition party DMK has begun electioneering retaining Marudhu Ganesh as its candidate.

DMK working president MK Stalin also wrote to opposition parties including Left and VCK seeking their support. VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan immediately announced his party support the DMK.