Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), the head of the AIADMK, referred to the Madras High Court’s decision on Friday as “historic” and said it effectively backed his election as the party’s temporary leader in July. The High Court ruling would be contested in the Supreme Court, according to rival leader O Panneerselvam.
Workers from the AIADMK arrived at Mr. Palaniswami’s home to meet him as the court announced its ruling, burst crackers and gave sweets.
EPS criticized “mischievous self-centered” people without mentioning Mr. Panneerselvam or his followers. Furthermore, denouncing them as “diseases that kill from inside,” EPS said they supported the DMK government while the latter was laboring to protect the populace from its “unruliness.”
Such factors prevented AIADMK from working diligently to address the welfare of people and party workers, Mr. Palaniswami said.
In a statement, EPS stated, “I gleefully applaud the Madras High Court Division Bench’s ruling.” He expressed gratitude to all the party officials and members who supported him throughout his legal struggle.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Panneerselvam stated that the Supreme Court would hear an appeal of the High Court’s decision.
The Madras High Court earlier on Friday accepted Mr. Palaniswami’s appeal in the party leadership issue and overturned an earlier ruling in Mr. Panneerselvam’s favor.
A division bench made up of Justices M. Duraiswamy, and Sundar Mohan overturned a judge’s ruling that declared the AIADMK General Council meeting on July 11 invalid.
The opposition’s EPS leader was chosen to fill the party’s top position as an interim general secretary during that meeting in July. The party expelled Mr. Panneerselvam.
With this new court judgment, Mr. Palaniswami’s position as the only and top leader of the AIADMK is strengthened.
