CHENNAI: In order to create a cordial relationship between the newly-appointed parliamentary constituency in-charges and district secretaries of DMK, a meeting has been scheduled at the party headquarters here on October 25.
It is learnt that the meeting is being organised after there were differences of opinion in the party over the appointment of the constituency in charges.
To discuss the various measures to be taken to face the 2019 general elections, a high-level committee meeting was convened last Wednesday. Following this, a team of in-charges - two persons for each parliament segment - were appointed on Saturday to carry out measures to tackle the forthcoming general elections. But, according to party sources, the appointment of parliament in-charges has created a difference of opinion among district secretaries of the party.
A DMK MLA, who has been serving as a union secretary of the party for the last 15 years, told Express, “In our party, district secretary post is considered the most powerful one. The district secretary is one and the only person to suggest any candidate for Assembly and parliamentary election. No one can act without his consent even in party activities. In this situation, a team of 80 persons, two each for all the 40 parliamentary segments including Puducherry, have been appointed. Most of them were appointed from other districts. For example, an MLA from Tiruchy district has been appointed as in-charge for Coimbatore parliament segment and an MLA from Thiruvarur district has been appointed for The Nilgiris parliament segment. Similarly, some of them, who came to our party just two years ago have also been appointed as parliament segment in-charges.”
Another union secretary said, “It will create an inner party tussle when parliament in-charges of other districts start working in their allotted segments. The local cadres, who are expecting parliament segment seats, will not obey district secretaries. This would result in disobedience in party affairs. Hence, it was discussed by district secretaries. Most of them have expressed their displeasure over the appointment of outsiders as in-charges. On coming to know this, we feel that the party high command has convened a meeting on Thursday exclusively for district secretaries and parliament segment in-charges to create a cordial relationship between them by elaborating the reason behind their appointment” he said.
However, party functionaries hope that the meeting of district secretaries and in-charges will pave way for a cordial relationship between them to enable the party to reap the maximum number of seats in coming polls.
Anbazhagan ‘to be discharged soon’
CHENNAI: Veteran DMK leader K Anbazhagan was admitted to Apollo Hospital here late Saturday night. In a statement, DMK president M K Stalin said “Anbazhagan has been admitted to hospital due to high fever. Doctors treating him said he is recovering”.
After visiting the hospital, he said “Anbazhagan is likely to be discharged in one or two days” and requested party workers not to visit him in hospital.