Chennai, July 27 (IANS) Tamil Nadu’s opposition AIADMK is preparing to convene its Working Committee meeting earlier than usual next month, with party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) expected to use the forum to strengthen the organisation, address internal dissent, and outline the party’s strategy for the upcoming local body elections.
Recognised political parties are required by the Election Commission of India to hold a General Council meeting once a year and Working Committee meetings twice annually.
In keeping with this practice, the AIADMK has traditionally conducted a combined Working Committee and General Council meeting every December.
However, party sources indicate that this year’s Working Committee meeting is likely to be held in August, several months ahead of schedule.
The move comes in the wake of growing organisational challenges following the party’s defeat in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Since June 13, Palaniswami has reportedly been holding a series of review meetings with district-level office-bearers to assess the party’s performance and organisational preparedness. The consultations, which concluded on July 25, covered all 85 organisational districts of the AIADMK.
According to party insiders, Palaniswami closely monitored attendance at these meetings and maintained a record of those who failed to participate. Several senior leaders, including former ministers S.P. Velumani, Natham Viswanathan, C.V. Shanmugam and P. Thangamani, were absent from the consultations. MLAs Arunmozhi Devan, Sukumar, and Rakesh were also among those who did not attend.
Sources said the party leadership is now considering seeking explanations from office-bearers who skipped the meetings.
Palaniswami is also expected to initiate discussions with leaders identified as dissidents in an effort to resolve differences within the party. Those unwilling to cooperate with the leadership’s efforts could face disciplinary action, including expulsion from the organisation.
The AIADMK chief is also expected to fill vacant organisational posts by appointing new office-bearers as part of a broader restructuring exercise aimed at strengthening the party machinery ahead of future electoral battles. Local body elections are likely to figure prominently in the proposed Working Committee meeting.
During the district-level consultations, Palaniswami reportedly stressed that the AIADMK must improve its performance in the civic polls and instructed district leaders to ensure stronger grassroots mobilisation. He is also said to have encouraged even senior functionaries to contest local body elections to reinforce the party’s presence at the grassroots. The forthcoming Working Committee meeting is expected to finalise organisational changes and adopt a roadmap for the AIADMK’s preparations for the local body elections.
–IANS
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