COIMBATORE: The ruling faction of the AIADMK is all set to welcome one of the rebel MLAs back to its fold.
Kavundmpalayam MLA VC Arukutty, who was among the first to extend support to O Panneerselvam after he revolted against VK Sasikala's leadership, is reportedly mulling a return.
Sources said he would join the ruling faction in the presence of its leader, chief minister 'Edappadi' K Palaniswami, during the birth centenary celebrations of AIADMK founder and former chief minister MG Ramachandran at Palladam on Saturday.
Speaking to Express, Arukutty said he would make his stand clear in a day or two.
Arukutty is upset over the treatment meted out to him Panneerselvam's faction. He has not been invited to the OPS camp for the MGR centenary function scheduled to be held in Coimbatore on July 29.
"I was the first person to extend support to Panneerselvam when he revolted against general secretary VK Sasikala. But I was not given respect in OPS camp, prompting me to reconsider my stand," he said.
Sources said the rebels were upset about Arukutty's recent activities. Him thanking the chief minister and other ministers has not gone down unnoticed.
"As an MLA, I am here to serve the people in the constituency. So when the ministers announce various welfare schemes for my constituency, I thanked them. It is just a formal gesture, it cannot be considered as politics," he argued.
In an effort to woo Arukuty, the Palaniswami's government had announced a slew of welfare schemes and projects targeting his constituency -- Kavundampalayam
Electricity Minister P Thangamani announced power for Kavundampalayam's Thumanoor and Saembukarai villages. Those villages did not have electricity for several decades.
Also, Kavundampalayam constituency was given two bridges, a new revenue divisional office, and a new government hospital.
According to sources in AIADMK, Arukutty would join the EPS camp on Saturday at the MGR Centenary function that is held at Palladam in Tirupur district. However, when asked about it, Arukutty said he had conveyed his opinion to the party chief who is likely to respond soon.
Two MLAs in the OPS camp, P R G Arunkumar and O K Chinnaraj, denied Arukutty’s allegations about not being invited to the MGR centenary function. The function was planned by the whole team. Everything was known to Arukutty, said Arunkumar. “In fact, when we invited him to the ground preparation works, Arukutty said he would not be coming. These allegations are shocking to us,” he added. When asked about rumours about Arunkumar and Chinnaraj joining the ruling faction, they denied that they would join the group.
He also expressed his concern over the delay in the merger of the two factions. "We thought the party would merge soon. But as it did not materialize, there is a need to reconsider the stand these days," Arukutty said.