EPS thinks he is on a par with MGR and Jayalalithaa: K C Palanisamy

Former Member of Parliament K C Palanisamy says the imminent release of V K Sasikala and the formal political foray of Rajinikanth are the big threats to the AIADMK, and that only a collective leadership can help it triumph in the next assembly elections. Palanisamy, who was expelled by the ruling party, and is now out on bail after 19 days in jail over misuse of party name and symbol, in an interview with TOI challenges these allegations
Q: What led to your arrest?
I have always said primary members of the party should elect the general secretary of the AIADMK.There was a perception that I took that stand to throw V K Sasikala out and to help EPS. But it has been my stand throughout — when the factions of Edappadi K Palanisami and O Panneerselvam were operating separately and post the merger. My stand has been ratified by Justice G S Sistani of the Delhi high court in his order on February 28, 2019.
When MGR drafted the party bylaws, he made it clear that only primary members should elect the general secretary. J Jayalalithaa, in 2007, while introducing an amendment also did not change the part relating to the election of general secretary. MGR and Jayalalithaa created that safety net so that no one can go out and buy all general council members. This was done to prevent any vested interest group from hijacking the party. Under the present set up, anyone with money power and support of a national party can do so. Sasikala with money and muscle power became the general secretary. Tomorrow, EPS with money power can become the general secretary with the support of the BJP.
Q: Why was the action taken now?
When they hit the ground recently for the local body elections, they understood the support base I have among the party’s third generation cadres. That created some sort of fear. The website www.aiadmk.org.in was created in 2017. I was expelled from the party in March 2018. Why are they taking action in 2020? If it is wrong now, it was wrong then too.
Q: Was it right to use a website in the name of the AIADMK after you were expelled from the party?
This website was started in 2017 against Sasikala and to generate support to ensure only primary members can elect the general secretary of the party. Only an elected general secretary has the powers to remove anyone from the party, and my removal is challenged in the Delhi high court.
The website was on sale on a publicly traded internet domain, GoDaddy. Payment was made legally. If the website belonged to them, how did they allow its sale? Had they asked for it, I would have given it away. Look at the way Google handled a similar episode and see how these people have handled it. (A few years ago, a former Google employee purchased Google.com for $12 in an open market transaction, owning it for all of one minute. Alarmed, Google authorities reached out and offered to pay him to get the rights back. Since the man only wanted to test the availability of such a domain name and was donating the money to a charity, Google doubled the remuneration.)
I have not been served any order or communication with regards to my expulsion till date. If I was expelled from the party, why did nine ministers pose for a photo with me at the secretariat in May 2019? Why did EPS back out from taking me back? Was it on the instructions of Sasikala? How can I accept them as my leaders on a par with MGR and Jayalalithaa.
Q: What is the way forward?
They thought, fearing imprisonment, I will reach out to them and forget my agenda, just like OPS. I remained in prison for almost 19 days and proved their assumptions were wrong. Henceforth, I will not restrict myself to judicial fights and media debates. I will start mobilising cadres by touring the state. I am ready to take them on.
Q: Who are "they" and "them" you are referring to?
They are EPS, OPS and minister S P Velumani. Large posters of Velumani have sprung up across Coimbatore celebrating Velumani’s contribution to the state with the claim: ‘What could not be achieved in 50 years, was achieved in five years’. By saying that, he is degrading the rule of MGR and Jayalalithaa. How can I tolerate it, being a member of the party since inception?
Q: Is there any possibility of a rapprochement?
I am not here to destroy the AIADMK. I am for uniting all partymen. Let them form a five-member committee with Sasikala, EPS, OPS, Madhusudhanan and me. Let us collectively face the assembly elections. After that let us go on a membership enrolment drive and hold elections for the party general secretary.
Q: Can this happen?
EPS is assuming himself to be like MGR and Jayalalithaa and that is a big mistake. Only a collective leadership can give strength and help the party emerge successful in the next elections. EPS should have formed the 11-member steering committee, in which I too was to be a member, as decided during the merger. They are managing things because of being in power. The party is facing two big threats – Sasikala’s release and Rajinikanth’s formal foray into politics. Collective leadership is the only way forward for the party.