CHENNAI: Being the prime mover in the DMDK, its staunchest defender and the loudest campaigner, party founder Vijayakant’s wife and its Women’s Wing leader Premalatha has come in for some sharp criticism.
Meeting the press on Wednesday, a day after they went public to express their displeasure over the alliance choices that the party leadership made, the dissident leaders targeted Premalatha, holding her responsible for the wrong turn that the DMDK has taken.
“There was no problem until it was under the control of the Captain. But now the DMDK has gone into the hands of “Anniyar” Premalatha. It was she who took the decision to go with the People’s Welfare Alliance (PWA), much against the wish of party cadre. Now, the only way to protect the party is to align with the DMK,” VC Chandhirakumar, former propaganda secretary of the party and once a close confidante of Vijayakant, told mediapersons while addressing a press conference on Wednesday.
Sources among the dissidents and other disgruntled cadre, still within the party, said it is Premalatha and her brother and Youth Wing leader, LK Sudhish who control the party. Vijayakant does not take any important decision without her consent, sources added.
There was a brief while when the DMDK toyed with the idea of joining with the DMK. During that time, Vijayakant gave an interview in his party’s TV channel where he criticised cartoons that demeaned DMK president M Karunanidhi, which gave rise to the belief within the party itself that the two are going to align. This sent positive signals even to the DMK camp, which restarted its efforts to woo the DMDK.
However, if sources are to be believed, Premalatha wanted the BJP to be in the alliance instead of the Congress. Sources among the rebels allege that she has been eyeing a Rajya Sabha seat for her brother Sudhish. This was not to happen. She then tried to bring the BJP inside the PWA, but without the Left parties, which the MDMK and VCK opposed. Even the BJP had some reservations about the conditions the party put forth, said Chandhirakumar. Express had earlier reported how the DMDK wanted a new alliance instead of the NDA, which the BJP disagreed.
The rebels and several seat aspirants believe that their chances to win this time could be brightened by aligning with the DMK, and are understandably upset. However, what is curious is their pointing to Premalatha holding sway within the DMDK.
From being the key force within the party for all important matters to emerging as the most hard-hitting campaigner for the party, one that has attracted hundreds of the faithful to throng venues, Premalatha has always been a leader of heft in the DMDK. On the one hand it brought compliments from the most compulsive campaigner in recent times, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, while on the other, it led to the exit of senior politician Panruti K Ramachandran from the party, apparently after finding his space reduced over the years.
Vijayakant loyalist and party’s headquarters secretary B Parthasarathy said as much when he said in reply to Chandirakumar’s allegations against her: “He is now charging that “Anniyar” had been interfering in party affairs. Chandirakumar was made Whip of the party in the State Assembly only because of her. Was that okay for him? Chandirakumar was also made party propaganda secretary by our leader. One thing is sure. Captain may forgive his enemy, but not a betrayer.”