Calling the DMK an ‘undemocratic party’, suspended leader and former Union Minister M K Alagiri praised AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for directly appointing district secretaries to her party once in every year.
Talking to reporters after a consultative meeting here on Monday, Alagiri said that his supporters had expressed their desire to have him invited by DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi to work for the victory of the party’s candidates in the Lok Sabha elections.
“But the DMK’s list of 35 candidates does not mirror its chief Karunanidhi’s choice. The seats have been allotted to persons who have nothing to do with the party,” he said.
“In the case of Tirunelveli, the party has allotted seats after collecting money. In Ramanathapuram, the seat has been allotted to a person who runs a college and doesn’t have any connection with the party. If they say that the seats have been allotted to party sympathisers, I too have lot of friends who are DMK sympathisers. Will the party give seats for them too?”
Rather than testing the candidate’s knowledge about the party and its activities, the high command, during the selection process, shows interest only in knowing how well he/she would be able to contribute financially to the party, he charged.
He also pointed out Kanyakumari MP Helen Davidson and Thoothukudi MP Jayadurai, who had been good parliamentarians, were denied tickets.
“When IUML candidate Abdul Rahman of KV Kuppam constituency took part in a meeting of allies, DMK functionaries heckled him,” he alleged.
“They did it at the instigation of senior leader Durai Murugan because the party didn’t allot a seat for his son. But the high command didn’t take any action against him,” he added.
Under these circumstances, Alagiri said he appreciated Jayalalithaa for directly appointing district secretaries to her party.
He praised Jayalalithaa for changing the party’s district Secretaries if they did not work. “I appreciate that. That is one reason why AIADMK is united and disciplined. There is a command system. There is no such system in DMK,” he told his supporters. Later, he said in an interview with a TV channel:“I believe there is a Modi wave. I have already said he is a good administrator and will welcome if he becomes (prime minister).”
Rajini Fans Support
Members of the Rajinkanth fan club will vote for the party or the candidate as per the advice of ex-Union Minister M K Alagiri, said Bala Thamburaj, district secretary of Rajinikanth Fan Club, Madurai. Participating in the consultative meeting organised by M K Alagiri, Thamburaj said that both Rajinkanth and Alagiri have one thing in common. “Both recognise those who work hard and reward them.”