Fight for AIADMK: T T V Dhinakaran drops case, V K Sasikala keeps her options open

Former CM J Jayalalithaa's close aide V K Sasikala, who made a dramatic announcement about stepping away from politics on March 3, seems to be keeping her options open about returning to active politics as she had not withdrawn her case filed in 2017 challenging her removal as general secretary of the AIADMK.

On Monday, her nephew T T V Dhinakaran withdrew his petition filed before a court in 2017 challenging the AIADMK general council's decision to remove him from the post of deputy general secretary. The AMMK leader said he wanted to withdraw the case since he has founded a separate party. When the suit came up for hearing on Monday, Dhinakaran's counsel filed a memo for withdrawal. However, counsel for Sasikala said he has to get instructions from his client about whether to withdraw or continue with the case. Recording the same, IV additional judge A R V Ravi adjourned the plea to April 9. The issue pertains to resolutions adopted by the AIADMK general council in September 2017 removing Sasikala and Dhinakaran. Aggrieved, the duo filed a civil suit in the Madras HC seeking to declare Edappadi K Palaniswami, O Panneerselvam, Dindigul C Srinivasan, S Semmalai and E Madhusudanan as not members of the AIADMK.

‘Actions taken are illegal and against by-laws of party’

They further claimed that all actions taken by them in their capacity as office-bearers of AIADMK, including removal of Sasikala and Dhinakaran from their respective posts, are all illegal and against the by-laws of the party.

Though the case was originally filed in the high court, it was subsequently transferred the file of the city civil court in view of change in the pecuniary jurisdiction of civil courts. Days after Sasikala’s release from a Bengaluru jail, petitions were filed for early hearing of the case. The court had accordingly fixed March 15 as date of hearing. In the meanwhile, Sasikala had announced that she would stay away from active politics.

On Monday, when the plea came up for hearing, counsel representing chief minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Paneerselvam sought the court to reject the entire suit. They contended that the issue had been already settled by the ECI which dismissed their claim over AIADMK. The same has also been confirmed by the Supreme Court, they said.