Dinakaran’s appointment illegal, says Madhusudhanan

Sacked AIADMK presidium chairman, E. Madhusudhanan, has termed the appointment of V.K. Sasikala’s nephew T.T.V. Dinakaran as deputy general secretary as “illegal.”

In an interview to The Hindu, Mr. Madhusudhanan said as per the AIADMK’s party bye-laws set down by MGR, “only a person who has been a member of the party for five continuous years can hold any post in the party.”

Mr. Madhusudhanan said Mr. Dinakaran was ousted from the party and stripped off the primary membership in 2011 along with Sasikala and other family members. “If he was given the primary membership back today morning, that itself makes it illegal for his appointment,” he argued.

He also said that Sasikala did not have powers to appoint anyone as she herself was only an interim general secretary. He further said, “As Presidium Chairman, only I have the right to appoint to anyone else, as per the bye-laws.”

“The bye-laws state that in the absence of the general secretary, the presidium chairman has the right to take decisions,” he said.

When asked how he can appoint anyone to the AIADMK since Sasikala had removed him, he shot back: “Who is Sasikala? I only recommended her to the post of General Secretary, but she was only interim. She was not elected by the 1.5 crore members of the party. I already sacked her.”

He also said he will call for elections to the General Secretary post soon, and it would be held as per the bye-laws where all the 1.5 crore members would vote.

“We think OPS (O. Panneerselvam) should be the general secretary, but that’s my personal opinion”, he said.