CHENNAI: A day after rebel AIADMK leader and independent MLA TTV Dhinakaran vouched to regain control of the party, senior AIADMK leader and Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development S P Velumani made a counter-attack on him on Monday on the floor of the Assembly.
Although Dhinakaran was not present, the minister chose the occasion of replying to the debate on the demand for grants to his departments to assail him.
“I thought of telling him but he is not here. Yet, I want to remind that he was thrown out of the party 10 years ago,” Velumani said.
He added the party and the government would continue to be guided by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. “We will be obliged to none other than the CM and Deputy CM,” he affirmed.
Dhinakaran, while opening the headquarters office of his Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam on Sunday, had said that he would regain control of the party and also the party headquarters office located at Royapettah.
Continuing his attack, Velumani said that unwanted persons would be weeded out of the party. Velumani was the second influential minister, after P Thangamani (Electricity) to take on Dhinakaran. Thangamani had assailed Dhinakaran, saying the independent MLA was unqualified to criticise him, describing him as ‘TASMAC minister’ because he was part of liquor brewing business. However, Dhinakaran negated the minister saying that he did not own any such firm.
Claim of control
Dhinakaran, while opening the headquarters office of his Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam had said that he would regain control of AIADMK