The ruling EPS-OPS combine had no inkling of the tsunami that was to hit it in December 21 bypoll to the RK Nagar seat held by Amma.

Clearly, stung by the verdict with over 50 per cent of the electorate preferring the person they kicked out of the party the Chief Minister Edapaddi Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam on Monday sought to downplay the defeat and said that there was a secret pact Dhinakaran had with the DMK.

Someone who is supping with the enemy, how can that person claim legacy of Amma who fought the DMK all her life, the leaders said.

But more important, after a mandatory review meeting, the duo who are the coordinators of the all-powerful panel that controls the party, removed six office bearers of the party considered close to Dhinakaran.

Those removed are P Vetrivel, Thanga Tamilselvan, M Rangaswamy, V Muthaiah, P Kalairajan, Sholingur Partiban. The AIADMK also expelled Nanjil Sampath, V Pughlendi, CR Saraswathi and ordered that no one from party should be in touch with them.

Elaborating on the theme of a secret pact between Dhinakaran and the DMK, Panneerselvam said it was Dhinakaran who was the first to greet Stalin on 2G verdict.

CM Palaniswami thundered against the traitors and said they will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken against anyone who betrays the party, he said.

OPS declared that there was threat to the government or the party.

One of the leaders removed from the party questioned the authority of EPS and OPS to remove anyone from the party. “The people have given the verdict who the real AIADMK is. Our general secretary is Chinnamma and Dhinakaran (Anna) is our deputy general secretary. They are the ones who can take any decision,” he said.