CHENNAI: While herding his MLAs at a private resort in Puducherry for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, deposed deputy general secretary of the AIADMK T T V Dhinakaran ‘removed’ four ministers from their respective positions in the party and its wings. All four ministers promptly questioned his authority to do so and said his decision was not binding on them.
Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar was removed from the post of secretary of Jayalalithaa Peravai and was replaced by S Mariappan Kennady,
Manamadurai MLA. Some months back, Udhayakumar was a vocal supporter of general secretary V K Sasikala and was part of the lobby that pushed for her elevation as chief minister. He then turned a supporter of Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, which is why he is in Dhinakaran’s cross-hairs.
Transport Minister M R Vijayabaskar was removed from the post of Karur district secretary of the AIADMK (Amma) and V Senthil Balaji, MLA, was nominated to the position.
Minister for Commercial Taxes K C Veeramani was removed from Vellore west district secretary of the party while Minister for Food R Kamaraj was divested of his responsibility as Tiruvarur district secretary.
Dhinakaran also stripped V V Rajan Chellappa, MLA, of the post of AIADMK Madurai rural district secretary. Former MLA E Mahendran was appointed in his place, according to a release issued by him. TA Ezhumalai, Poonamallee MLA, was made the secretary of Tiruvallur west replacing ‘Siruniam’ P Balaraman, MLA, while Bharani EA Karthikeyan was made Pudukottai district secretary in the place of PK Vairamuthu.
Similarly, M Kothandapani, MLA, was appointed secretary of Kancheepuram central district in the place of S Arumugam. Ex-MLA G Senthamizhan was appointed Chennai south district secretary by removing ‘Virugai’ Ravi from the post.
Dhinakaran also made some other changes in the party organisation as well.