AIADMK sacks Sasikala as party general secretary

CHENNAI: The AIADMK (Amma, Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) on Tuesday resolved to oust party general secretary V K Sasikala from the post and set up a steering committee to lead the party.The party general council passed 12 resolutions at a meeting held in Vanagaram on the outskirts of Chennai.The high-level body led by party presidium chairman E Madhusoodanan resolved to do away the post of general secretary."Appointment of Sasikala is cancelled. All her activities between December 30 and February 15, including appointments, sackings and inclusions are invalid," said a resolution.The resolution was read out by Rajya Sabha member R Vaithilingam and seconded by all general council members.The council resolved to nullify all appointments made by sacked deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran. It resolved to set up a steering committee led by coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami. K P Munusamy and R Vaithilingam are deputy coordinators."The coordinator and joint coordinator are empowered to take all decisions related to election commission, government, courts, bank accounts and transactions besides authorisation of party candidates to contest the polls," a resolution said.The council resolved to permit the office-bearers appointed by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa to continue holding the posts.The members thanked the government for holding the MGR centenary celebrations successfully across the state and chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami for taking measures to set up Jayalalithaa memorial at Rs 15 crore.Another resolution congratulated the government for its rehabilitation and restoration measures during cyclone Vardah and drought in the recent months.It also extend its congratulations to the cadre for maintaining discipline in the midst of rivals' efforts to ruin the party.In a special resolution, the general council made a slew of changes to the party bylaws, including the one suggesting that Jayalalithaa would remain as the permanent general secretary and none will be elected or appointed to the post.Some key changes empowered the coordinator and the joint coordinator to induct members and convene a meeting of general council within 30 days from the request from one-fifth of the cadre.The party headquarters will function under the control of headquarters secretary appointed by the coordinator and joint coordinator.