Incumbent Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy has been declared the DMK’s chief ministerial candidate in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The candidate was announced by Deputy Chief Minister O Paneer Selvam. Earlier, it was decided that the party’s chief ministerial candidate would be announced on October 7.
The move by Edappadi and Paneer Selvam to contest for the CM post had intensified sectarianism at the party. O Paneerselvam then surrendered after conciliatory talks led by allies, including the BJP. If the party gains power, Paneer Selvam will be the Deputy Chief Minister. An 11-member steering committee has also been formed.
The formation of an 11-member steering committee was one of the key steps taken by Paneer Selvam, who had earlier left the party in protest, to return. He had made it clear that his party needed a majority in this. But full details of who will be on the committee are yet to come out.
Paneer Selvam is also likely to be declared the party convener. Both parties held their group meetings just before the announcement of the candidate. . The meeting at Palaniswami’s residence was chaired by senior ministers Senkottaiyan, Kadambur Raju and D Jayakumar. Party Deputy Coordinator KP Munisami, Manoj Pandian and former minister Natham Viswanathan also called on Paneer Selvam at his residence.
