SALEM: Two years and two months after the demise of Veerapandi S Armugam, a rebel group of DMK men in Salem has floated an outfit in the name of the Salem strongman.
S Raja of Panchamthangum Eri area is the man behind the new organaisation to be christened as Veerapandiyar Makkal Nala Iyakkam. A former DMK secretary of the Ward No.45, Raja has been holding the post from 2003 to 2015. He claims to have disassociated with the DMK during the party polls last year. His wife Selvi is the Corporation 45 th. Ward Councillor. Of late she too has been distanced for anti-party activities.
Raja says he wants to take the public service he and his wife had been doing in Ward 45 beyond the area. But there has been no support from the party for the initiative. The rank and file of the party in Salem are openly against the move but according to some insiders he has the covert backing of Veerapandi Arumugam’s family members especially his son Veerpandi A Raja who has not been having a blow hot-blow cold releationship with the party. Loyalists of Arumugam have been grieved as due importance has not been given to the late leader’s family after his demise. Veerapandi A Raja is the only district incharge whose posting has not been regluraised as District Secretary.