No rift or rivalry in AIADMK over general secy's post, says C Ponnaiyan

The veteran leader denies rumours floating around party and the leaders after Jayalalithaa's demise

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Saturday said there was no division within the party over the post of general secretary. Whosoever was blessed by the late party supremo J Jayalalithaa and party cadres would become the general secretary, said AIADMK spokesperson C Ponnaiyan.

Responding to questions on rumours about the party meeting on Saturday, he said reports of infighting among top party leaders for the post after Jayalailthaa's death were just baseless rumours, and that the names floating around in connection with the post were being spread unnecessarily through the media. 

"We are not divided over the post of general secretary," he said.

The names doing the rounds for the key position include late Jayalalithaa's close friend Sasikala, Sengottaiyan and M Thambidurai.
 

Senior ministers and party members, including Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, have spent considerable time holding discussions over the past two days at Poes Garden, the former chief minister's residence where Sasikala now resides.

Ponnayan parried questions about what was discussed, but said Sasikala was an important person in the party and had been with Jayalalithaa for many years. 
 

The party's next general secretary will be decided by the 15 million cadres of AIADMK. 

On the considerable amount of time spent by ministers at Poes Garden, Ponnayan said, "Amma's picture has been kept in the house and people are going to pay their respect to her. Inside the party, there is no jealousy or competition."

He also trashed reports of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s attempt to influence AIADMK over the selection of general secretary, claiming it was all hearsay and that AIADMK is an independent party that none can influence.