CHENNAI/MADURAI/THENI: A day after T T V Dhinakaran appointed his key supporters as office-bearers in different capacities, his supporters fired salvos at the ministers. With Revenue Minister R B Udayakumar and Finance Minister D Jayakumar making it clear that they were firm on keeping V K Sasikala’s family away from party affairs, the TTV supporters released the affidavits filed before the Election Commission by Udayakumar and Jayakumar on March 15 expressing support to Sasikala. However, talking to media persons at Delhi, Jayakumar dismissed this charge by saying that the dispute regarding the validity of the appointment of Sasikala was still pending before the EC.
“The Election Commission is yet to give its ruling on the dispute between the two factions of the AIADMK. But until then, we are firm on our stand that we should not dependent on VK Sasikala and TTV Dhinakaran. They have been delinked from the party affairs and Amma government is continuing. So, we are not bothering about others,” Jayakumar said.
Asked about the affidavit filed by him before the Election Commission supporting VK Sasikala as the party general secretary, Jayakumar clarified, “After the demise of Jayalalithaa, the general council of the party has taken a decision. But now, that decision is under the examination of the Election Commission. We will accept whatever the EC says. But in the interim period, rank and file of the AIADMK and general public don’t want their (the family of Sasikala) presence in the party. So, our aim is the continuation of Amma’s rule in Tamil Nadu and will stand by the decision we have already taken.”
At Madurai, Udayakumar questioned the timing of appointment of new office bearers. Stating that though all those appointed by TTV were efficient functionaries, in the history of AIADMK, no one had ever rejected any post offered by the party leadership. For the first time, such a development has taken place and in the midst of people, it has become the laughable matter.”
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam held discussions with his supporters at his Greenways Road residence. After the meeting KP Munusamy, one of the senior leader of the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) said “We don’t bother about the new appointments made by Dhinakaran because as far as we are concerned, he is not an AIADMK functionary.”
AK Bose told media persons that he was not in a position to accept the post announced by Dhinkaran due to his health reasons. He was appointed as the joint secretary of farmers wing of the party. He further said the post was announced without consulting me.
MLA K Kathirkamu said he would not accept the post given by Dhinakaran. He said, “I do not possess such political experience whether to support any leader in AIADMK party. I want to serve the people and wish to fulfil their demands. The present government led by Edappadi K Palanisamy is being run smoothly without any problem.”
On the other hand, STK Jakkaiyan, MLA from Cumbum constituency, who has been appointed as one of the organising secretaries of the party told Express that “there is no hesitation to accept the post since it announced with the consent of party general secretary VK Sasikala.”
NSKK Arun Kumar, who has been appointed as joint secretary of youth brigade told Express that he was pleased to accept the post.
Satya Panneerselvam rejected the post announced by Dhinakaran. She said the government headed by Edappadi K Palaniswami was functioning well and she would continue to support him.