AIADMK removes Sasikala as party general secretary

Agencies

September 12, 2017

Chennai, Sep 12: According to an unverified statement from the OPS camp, there are claims that the party's interim general secretary V K Sasikala has been expelled. Reports also claim that the post of the AIADMK general secretary has been abolished and that it would "always be held by Amma".

A crucial meeting of the ruling AIADMK General Council began here today morning amid expectations that it could take a call on the fate of party General Secretary VK Sasikala.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his Deputy O Pannerselvam were among those who were present at today’s meeting of the decision-making body, the first since the death of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s last year. It is also the first after the unification of the two camps led by the Chief Minister and Panneerselvam.

Earlier, a cloud of uncertainty had hung over today’s meeting as the Dhinakaran faction had moved the Madras High Court seeking a stay on it. The court had upheld an order of a single judge dismissing a plea to stay the AIADMK general council and executive committee meeting convened by Chief Minister K Palaniswami-led faction.

The meeting of the AIADMK Executive committee, prior to the General Council, was underway at a marriage hall near here. The General Council and Executive are expected to discuss issues including the future of Sasikala in the party.

Post the unification of the two camps, Dhinakaran and Palaniswami have been at loggerheads, with 19 MLAs owing allegiance to the former, meeting Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and seeking removal of Palaniswami, on August 22.

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From Representation to Rivalry: The Sorry State of Muslim Leadership in Karnataka Congress

coastaldigest.com news network

January 19,2026

Bengaluru: As the dust settles on the recent legislative session, the corridors of Vidhana Soudha are buzzing with more than just policy talk. A high-stakes game of political musical chairs has begun, exposing a deepening rift within the Congress party’s Muslim leadership as a major Cabinet reshuffle looms.

With the party hierarchy signaling a "50% refresh" to gear up for the 2028 Assembly elections, the race to fill three projected Muslim ministerial berths has transformed from a strategic discussion into an all-out turf war.

The "Star Son" Spark

The internal friction turned public this week following provocative remarks by Zaid Khan, actor and son of Wakf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. Zaid’s claim—that his father "helped" secure a ticket for Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad in 2023—has acted as a lightning rod for resentment.

Rizwan’s camp was quick to fire back, dismissing the comment as a desperate attempt by Zameer to manufacture seniority. "Rizwan’s political pedigree was forged in the NSUI and Youth Congress long before Zameer even stepped into the party," a supporter noted, highlighting Rizwan’s tenure as an AICC secretary and his two-term presidency of the State Youth Congress.

A Tale of Two Loyalists

While both Zameer Ahmed Khan and Rizwan Arshad are staunch allies of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and represent Bengaluru strongholds, their political DNA could not be more different:

• Zameer Ahmed Khan: A four-time MLA who crossed over from JD(S) in 2018. Known for his "overzealous" and often polarizing outreach during communal flashpoints—from the DJ Halli riots to the recent Wakf land notice controversy—his style has frequently left the Congress high command in a state of "discomfort."

• Rizwan Arshad: A homegrown organizational man. Seen as a "quiet performer," Arshad represents the sophisticated, moderate face of the party, preferred by those who find Zameer’s brand of politics too volatile.

The Outsiders Looking In

The bickering isn't limited to a duo. The "Beary" community, represented by leaders like N A Haris and Saleem Ahmed, is demanding its pound of flesh. Saleem Ahmed, the Chief Whip in the Legislative Council, has dropped the veil of diplomacy, openly declaring his ministerial aspirations.

"I was the only working president not included in the Cabinet last time," Saleem noted pointedly, signaling that the "loyalty quota" is no longer enough to keep the peace.

As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah prepares to finalize the list, he faces a delicate balancing act: rewarding the aggressive grassroots mobilization of Zameer’s camp without alienating the organizational stalwarts and minority sub-sects who feel increasingly sidelined by the "Chamarajpet-Shivajinagar" binary.

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