Supporters of AIADMK leaders Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam clashed outside the party headquarters on Monday morning, according to the police. This comes ahead of the party's council meeting scheduled for today when the dominant faction led by Palaniswami is set to possibly elect him as the single leader of the organisation.

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court verdict gave a green signal to AIADMK's crucial meet of the General Council, the party's highest decision-making body.

Chennai, Tamil Nadu | A clash-like situation breaks out between supporters of AIADMK leaders E Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam near party headquarters ahead of the General Council meeting, today pic.twitter.com/rSW9LsQFJE

— ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2022

Tamil Nadu Revenue department sealed the AIADMK headquarters in the wake of clashes that broke out between OPS and EPS cadres earlier today. The door was broke open by OPS supporters earlier in the day. Section 144 has been imposed around the party's headquarters following the clash that erupted in the morning.

Also read: EPS the new interim general secretary of AIADMK; OPS expelled

Since last month, the AIADMK has been witnessing serious intra-party wrangling over the issue of single-leadership and Palaniswami has the support of an overwhelming majority and Panneerselvam has been sidelined in the party.

Earlier, Vijay Narayan, the senior counsel representing former joint co-ordinator and party leader Palanisamy, told the court that there was nothing new in the head-quarters' office-bearers of the party convening the GC meeting in the absence of the echelons of the party.

It happened in 1987, when party founder MG Ramachandran died and his successor J Jayalalithaa was declared as the general secretary of the party. It was repeated after the death of Jayalalithaa in 2016, when Sasikala was elected as the interim general secretary of the party.

Tamil Nadu | AIADMK leader E Palaniswami reaches party office in Vanagaram for the General Council meeting pic.twitter.com/d3nFJmf139

— ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2022

In the absence of the two posts, the headquarters' office-bearers, the supreme body, steps in. One man was trying to stifle the growth of the party, which cannot be permitted, EPS added.

With inputs from PTI

First Published:Jul 11, 2022 10:09 AM IST