The announcement came after weeks of trading and speculation.
Chennai:
E Palaniswami will be AIADMK’s chief ministerial candidate for next year’s Tamil Nadu elections, his deputy and alleged rival for the position, O Panneerselvam, announced today.
The announcement came after weeks of negotiations and speculation about the intense rivalry between Chief Minister E Palaniswami or “EPS” and Mr. Panneerselvam.
An 11-member party steering committee will look at “collective leadership,” said Panneerselvam, also known as “OPS,” recalling the leadership of J Jayalalithaa, the former AIADMK chief and prime minister who died in 2016.
The talks reportedly continued until 3.30am this morning, in the hours leading up to the announcement that offers, for now, a delicate balance of power between EPS and OPS.
Posters projecting OPS as chief ministerial candidate had led to another intense fight between the two AIADMK principals.
But after several rounds of talks, the party has apparently settled for a truce in which EPS heads the government, while OPS will have more voice in the party.
The pact is crucial before the return of VK Sasikala, the ousted AIADMK boss who was jailed for corruption. Sasikala is likely to be released from jail in January, although reports suggest it could be earlier.
.
