NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, AUG 19
The see-saw battle for wresting the control of AIADMK between Edappadi Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam is going on before the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court keeping both the factions at their wits end.
While a united AIADMK will help it to take on the DMK juggernaut led by MK Stalin in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, a divided party will give Stalin more advantage, say political pundits.
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Edappadi Palaniswami faction on Thursday got a breather as the Supreme Court refused to stay the Madras High Court order allowing him to take possession of AIADMK headquarters in Chennai. It was locked and sealed by the Revenue Divisional Officer on July 11 when clashes took place between the EPS and O Panneerselvam factions. While both leaders approached the Madras HC against this action, it directed the RDO to hand over the keys of the AIADMK headquarters to EPS. In its order dated July 20, the HC also ordered the police to provide necessary protection to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.
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Thereafter, OPS challenged the HC order before the apex court. Appearing for him, senior advocate Shekhar Naphade argued that his client continues to be the Coordinator of AIADMK and thus, deserves access to the headquarters. Finally, an SC bench comprising CJI NV Ramana, Justices Hima Kohli and CT Ravikumar issued notice on this plea and sought a response from the RDO and the EPS faction of AIADMK.
