After Lok Sabha poll debacle, AIADMK legislator raises demand for 'single leader' to steer party

AIADMK MLA V V Rajan Chellappa on Saturday strongly pitched for a single "charismatic" leadership to steer the party, saying the present arrangement of dual power centres impeded quick decisions.

The leader's remarks come in the backdrop of the party's dismal performance in Lok Sabha polls. The AIADMK currently has two top posts of co-cordinator and coordiantor held by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam.

Chellappa, a former city Mayor, is the first party leader to openly bat for naming a single leader to the top party post of general secretary like the practice during the days of late leaders M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa.

Lack of a charismatic leadership after the demise of Amma was also among the reasons for the Lok Sabha poll debacle, he said.

The MLA's demand is perceived to have put the cat among the pigeons in the ruling party where the talk of division in the ranks has emerged again.

After the polls, the AIADMK vigorously wooed cadres who had switched to the rival Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and several of them joined hands with the ruling party recently.

Only P Raveendranath Kumar, son of Panneerselvam, won from Theni Lok Sabha seat, while all other AIADMK nominees lost. Of the 22 Assembly seats where bypolls were held, the ruling party managed to win nine constituencies.

Addressing a press conference, Chellappa, who represents the North Assembly segment here, said he had discussions with several MLAs who also were of the view that the power should be in the hands of one leader.

After the merger of factions led by Palaniswami and Panneerselvam in August 2017, the party had appointed chief minister and his deputy as its co-coordinator and coordinator respectively.

The MLA, however, refrained from naming anyone despite prodding from reporters and said "any leader with influence among the people, with charisma and recognised by Amma should assume power".

The proposal would be put forth in the General Council meeting, he told reporters.

Both Palaniswami and Panneerselvam had the blessings of the late leader and it can be assessed who was better and a third leader too with such traits can be scouted, he said.

"Whether it is the Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister they should be in a position to take decisions," he said and stressed that only a single leadership would be able to deliver.

When asked to identify the charismatic leader, he said "we will for sure identify when the time comes."