THANJAVUR/KRISHNAGIRI/CHENNAI: After staying in the background for weeks, a period that was filled with rumours and speculations about an implicit lack of trust on Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala’s husband M Natarajan came out in support of the chief minister, charging that it was the saffron forces who were trying to create a wedge in the party.
“As Chief Minister, O Panneerselvam is carrying forward the good governance of AIADMK. We (the party) have no necessity or rush to change the leadership,” said Natarajan, when asked about the probabilities of Sasikala becoming the next chief minister. “Such issues can be discussed only by the party's high command and the party representatives elected to State Assembly.
As an observer, I request media not to create a controversy out of it,” added Natarajan. He was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the final day of three-day long Tamilar Arts and Literature festival held as a part of Pongal festival in Thanjavur on Monday AIADMK government led by Panneerselvam was working hard to bring up a secular society, he said, and charged: “Saffron forces are trying to create a conflict between Aryans (Brahmins) and Dravidians (non-Brahmins) in the State. These forces are attempting to create a rift in Tamil Nadu that now is a haven of peace.”
Maintaining that this will not succeed, he added that the last cadre of the party will fight to save the AIADMK from any conspiracy to break the party of ‘two leaves’.
This came on a day when Sasikala’s brother VK Divakaran’s speech at the Pongal event claiming that Natarajan and the extended family retrieved the party symbol for late leader J Jayalalithaa came under criticisms from within. Former minister KP Munusamy charged Divakaran of spreading false claims, claiming that party leader MG Ramachandran’s widow relinquished the claim to the symbol to prevent a split.
“He is not even a member of the party. How can he make such claims by giving false information to the people? The cadre will not accept his speech and Sasikala should control such persons to avoid disrepute to the party,” Munusamy told the media at Krishnagiri on Monday morning.
Munusamy pointed out the oft-repeated criticism against DMK of being a dynastic party and warned against the AIADMK, too, being an organisation controlled by one family – Natarajan, Sasikala and the extended family. The dissent was met with swift and strong rebuttals from State ministers, who condemned Munusamy of selling himself out to outsiders. “Munusamy’s remarks show that he has chosen a different path and has sold himself out to somebody.
If he were really interested in the welfare of the party, he would not have gone to the media; instead he should have discussed the issues within the party forum,” forest minister OS Manian told mediapersons. Divakaran, he added, acted as Jaya’s shield when she faced troubles, and has also contributed to the growth of the party.
Jaya had kept Munusamy away from the party posts, said Manian, adding that he had lost his right to take part in the general council meeting of the party due to this. Joining him, law minister C Ve Shanmugam alleged Munusamy of joining the “list of betrayers with a view to gain something”, while food minister R Kamaraj said Munusamy had always functioned with a motive and some expectation.