CHENNAI: In an indication of irreconcilable differences between top leaders within the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Durai Vaiko, Lok Sabha MP and son of party founder Vaiko, resigned from his post of principal secretary on Saturday, a day before the party’s high-level committee is scheduled to meet in Chennai on Sunday.
Durai, in a statement, expressed his anguish over “persistent personal attacks” against him in the past four years. Though he did not name anyone, party sources said he was referring to the rift between him and senior party leader Mallai Sathya.
He said while he had endured the attacks silently, time had come to step down from organisational responsibilities.
‘Sathya’s silence over social media posts added fuel to fire’
“However, I will continue to serve the people of Tiruchy and work at the grassroots level within the party,” Durai said. Party insiders said Durai’s appointment as principal secretary in 2021 was not taken well by Sathya, with their relationship worsening lately. Sathya’s silence over incendiary social media posts by his supporters added fuel to the fire, they said.
Once seen as internal discord, the rift seems to have widened with separate camps supporting Durai and Sathya. While Durai’s supporters accused Sathya of undermining party unity, those aligned with the latter flagged the lack of coordination in the party.
During a recent trade union meeting, Durai is believed to have walked out in protest when the issue was brought up, sources said. Notably, MDMK district committees in Tiruchy and Sivaganga recently passed resolutions demanding the removal of Sathya.
The developments prompted Vaiko to issue a statement urging party units not to pass resolutions targeting individual members. He called for a high-level meet on Sunday to address the issue. TNIE could not reach Sathya for comment.
Meanwhile, Vaiko told reporters on Saturday that an amicable solution will be arrived at on Sunday and cadres would listen to the leadership. The irony in Vaiko’s son’s entry into the party triggering an internal tussle cannot be missed as it may be recalled that Vaiko exited the party and launched MDMK in 1994, mainly in protest against the emergence of dynastic politics in the Dravidian party.