Expelled ADMK leader VK Sasikala's leaked audio clip is the latest missile that hit the party and triggered fresh tussle and intra-party furore. After facing an unprecedented debacle, the current leadership of the party is busy keeping her at the bay and containing her political resurgence. Sasikala's audio clip has gone viral on social media and stirred political debate on the possibilities of her taking over the party from the current leadership. 

Days after the release of the audio clip, ADMK's Joint Coordinator and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) has convened a sudden meeting with the party leaders in Chennai. It was Palaniswami's first meet since he became the Opposition Leader of the state assembly. However, his first meet had showered a strong light that the party is still exercising a political divide. 

The sudden meet has got more attention as it was boycotted by ADMK's Coordinator O Panneerselvam (OPS). Panneerselvam's drive of skipping the meeting has apparently displayed his tussle and dissent with Palaniswami for sidelining him in the party. According to our sources, the sudden meeting was held at the party's headquarters in Royapettah, Chennai. 

The sources say that the meeting was attended by nine district secretaries of the party and senior leaders like former ministers D Jayakumar and Benjamin and former legislators of the party T Nagar Sathya and Virugai Ravi without the presence of Panneerselvam. Palaniswami had discussed with the leaders why the party has lost all the constituencies in Chennai in the assembly polls. As the meeting was convened days after Sasikala's phone call to ADMK and AMMK members, the sources said that the leaders had also discussed Sasikala's efforts for a political comeback. 

However, while addressing the reporters after the meeting, Edappadi Palaniswami maintained that Sasikala had called to the AMMK members and not for the ADMK members. The former Chief Minister has sounded that Sasikala won't be accepted into the party.    According to reports, it has become the first meeting in recent times that Palaniswami has presided without the presence of Panneerselvam. Palaniswami had claimed that he has no tension with the former Deputy Chief Minister.

Last week, VK Sasikala's audio clip had gone viral after what was described as an intentional release by the people close to her, and in the audio clip, is heard saying that she is ready for a political comeback and she further asserted that she would take over the ADMK. She had vowed that she would drive the party on the path laid by 'Thalaivar' (ADMK's founder MG Ramachandran) and 'Amma' (J Jayalalithaa). 

She says to a cadre over the phone, "I will come and set things right in the party and take it on Thalaivar's and Amma's path. So many of you cadres have reposed faith in me. I will definitely not let you down. I will come back soon." The audio clip which is rampantly spread on social media has again given a Himalayan task to Edappadi Palaniswami to retain control in the party.

On the other hand, Sasikala's audio didn't cause tension to O Panneerselvam as the latter has been mulling to allying with her after souring relationship with Edappadi Palaniswami. According to a news agency, ADMK Coordinator O Panneerselvam had reached out to Sasikala through her close associates, during the lockdown. As the tension escalates between Panneerselvam and Palaniswami, the coordinator has decided to ally with Sasikala to collapse Palaniswami's surge in the party and the recent developments had suggested that the state is close to witnessing another episode of dispute in the party. 

During her phone call, Sasikala was sounded confident to the cadres and she was heard counselling the cadres to be strong and not get disheartened. She said to the cadres, "You are all with me. I don't have any fear. We will strengthen the party together." The political experts say Sasikala's phone call and audio clip were a strong signal not to Panneerselvam but to Palaniswami that she is getting ready for political resurgence, a factor that would irk Palaniswami.