TENKASI: DMK General Secretary Durai Murugan officially declared the names of 81 office-bearers for the Tenkasi North and South district units after a long battle between the functionaries for the top positions on Thursday.
Sankarankovil MLA E Raja and P Sivapadmanathan were appointed district secretaries for the North and South units respectively. While Raja replaced former secretary (in-charge) Chelladurai, Sivapadmanathan retained the secretary post for his unit.
Stating that their party is attempting to appoint Tenkasi MP Dhanush M Kumar, a native of Virudhunagar district, as North district secretary without holding an election, the supporters of Chelladurai had staged a protest in front of DMK headquarters Arivalayam. A functionary had also approached the lower court against the DMK leaders in this connection. However, Raja, a resident of Tenkasi has been made the secretary.
As far as the South district unit is concerned, Sivapadmanathan has been given the top post once again without any opposition. K Murugan filed a case in Alangulam District Munsif Court against the DMK President M K Stalin and Durai Murugan stated that his party appointed Secretary of Keezhapavoor East Union N L Sivanpandian without holding an election.
Sivapadmanathan made K Murugan withdraw his case last month. Against the appointment of Shengottai Union Secretary A Ravishankar, District Adi Dravidar Wing Organiser S Paramasivan and his supporters staged a protest in Shengottai.