Kochi: The 17-member executive committee of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), led by Shweta Menon, resigned en masse on Sunday following differences that surfaced during its annual general body meeting.The decision followed an allegation by some members that those at the helm failed to ensure the association’s functioning in accordance with its rules and regulations. They also said that the committee’s certain decisions adversely affected the association’s public image. A purported statement circulated by members reportedly sought an unconditional apology and resignation from office.The outgoing committee also included general secretary Cuckoo Parameswaran, vice-presidents Lakshmipriya and Jayan R, and treasurer Unni Sivapal.According to reports, a section of members questioned the financial statement and annual report presented at the meeting. Former office-bearers, including actors Sidhique, Edavela Babu and Baburaj, reportedly raised objections and sought corrections to alleged discrepancies in the reports. The executive committee sought 45 days to rectify the issues, but some members opposed the proposal.Addressing the media after the meeting, Menon announced that she and her committee resigned from their positions. She further stated that she resigned from AMMA’s primary membership and left the association altogether.She alleged that there were attempts to bring the association back under the control of “those accused of wrongdoing”.“I was forced to sign a no-confidence motion without even being informed. From the very beginning, there were attempts to remove us from the association,” Menon said.She also criticised the functioning of the previous committee and asserted that all accounts during her tenure were transparent. However, she alleged that there were several issues during the term of Baburaj. “I did not speak about them openly because we were a small association. Now I feel relieved that I can speak about everything openly. If we are not puppets, we cannot run this organisation, but I’m not ready to become one,” she said.Menon became the first female president of AMMA after actor Mohanlal resigned following the controversy surrounding the Hema Committee report. The resignation comes less than a year after the committee was elected in Aug last year.Senior actor Jagadeesh indicated that the association’s administration will be handed over to an interim committee. Actor and Palakkad MLA Ramesh Pisharody has been appointed convener of the temporary panel, Jagadeesh announced. The other members are K B Ganesh Kumar, Suresh Krishna, Sadique, Rony David, Krishnaprabha, Asha Aravind, Shajohn and Devi Chandana.
