HC will consider OPS’s appeal against the directive on the use of the AIADMK name and symbol

A day after a single judge bench temporarily barred O Panneerselvam (OPS) from claiming his position as coordinator and from using the party flag, emblem, and letterhead, OPS’s lawyer said that the Madras high court has decided to hear OPS’s appeal.

According to the attorney, a two-judge panel consisting of Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq has decided to hear the appeal that OPS would submit on Friday.

Judge N Satish Kumar ordered an interim injunction against OPS on Tuesday, extending its validity till November 30. The ruling was based on a plea filed by Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS), the general secretary of the AIADMK, asking for an interim injunction against OPS to stop the latter from meddling in party matters and causing confusion.

On July 11 of last year, OPS and his backers were ousted from the AIADMK, which is run by the EPS.

Despite OPS’s repeated pleas against his removal from office before the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court, the courts refused to give him redress. OPS is now appealing to the Supreme Court against the court’s decision to not get involved in his expulsion. The Justice Kumar panel had said that the injunction will end on November 30 if the Supreme Court issued any orders.

OPS met with his supporters on Wednesday instead of responding to the court’s injunction. In the meanwhile, the AIADMK has internally chosen R B Udhayakumar to replace OPS as the deputy leader of opposition in the assembly. He said that the party welcomes new members, with the exception of those who have abandoned them. “How are the name, emblem, and letterhead of the party still being used by those who have been expelled for betraying it? The AIADMK cadre is the only ones who own it, he said.

Following the removal of OPS and the abolition of the dual leadership last year, EPS was chosen to serve as the AIADMK’s general secretary. OPS and the two expelled leaders, TTV Dhinakaran and V K Sasikala, have not been taken back, and EPS has remained steadfast in his position. OPS teamed up with Dhinakaran amid these legal disputes, while EPS left the BJP-led NDA in September and is ready to run for the Lok Sabha in 2024 with more partners.