TIRUNELVELI, CHENNAI: Hours after general secretary V K Sasikala chose her nephew TTV Dinakaran as the deputy general secretary of AIADMK, V R Karuppasamy Pandian, a strongman from the south, quit the party post, raising allegations of nepotism. Pandian, who returned to AIADMK last July and was recently made one of the organising secretaries, backed O Panneerselvam as the best person to lead the party, but said he had not decided about joining his faction.
Addressing the media at Tirunelveli on Wednesday, Pandian questioned the legitimacy of Dinakaran’s appointment at a time when Sasikala’s elevation as interim general secretary was pending before the Election Commission of India.
A three-time MLA, Pandian added that posts should be awarded based on work and dedication. “Dinakaran used to serve tea when we (deputy general secretaries) used to discuss affairs in Chennai, while MGR was undergoing treatment in the US,” he said.
The party formed by M G Ramachandran now lacks direction, which has left lakhs of cadre stranded and helpless, he fumed. “The AIADMK has fallen into the hands of one family. Sasikala and family were once expelled from the party for being disloyal to the late Jayalalithaa. Only Sasikala was allowed back after tendering apology. But now, Dinakaran and Venkatesh have been re-inducted. I can’t be a party to it, so I am resigning,” Pandian said.
However, he made it clear that he was in no hurry to join the rebel camp. “Only if I get respect and a position that has the powers to ensure the welfare of the people in southern districts, I will go with a party. Till now, OPS camp has not sought my support,” he said.
Pandian entered politics at a very young age when MGR formed the AIADMK in 1972. While in his mid-20s, he won from Alangulam Assembly constituency in 1977.
After repeating the victory in 1980, this time from Palayamkottai, he was made the district secretary of the undivided Tirunelveli (then including Thoothukudi district). He soon emerged powerful and rose to be the deputy general secretary in 1996.