KALLAKURICHI: AIADMK MLA from Sankarapuram R Rakesh on Tuesday levelled serious allegations against party functionaries, including an election in-charge, claiming that he faced sustained opposition from within the party during the recent Assembly election campaign.
Addressing mediapersons at Sankarapuram, Rakesh said the AIADMK’s victory in the constituency after a gap of 10 years was made possible due to the efforts of party cadres, branch-level office-bearers, alliance workers and local administrators.
He said the party had entered the polls with high expectations, but several incidents had marred the campaign period.
“From the day AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami announced my candidature till today, the hardships I have faced cannot be counted. I have convened this press meet to inform party functionaries and the public,” he said.
Tracing his political lineage, Rakesh said his family had long been associated with the party since the days of M G Ramachandran’s association with the DMK prior to founding the AIADMK. “My father was part of the MGR forum and my grandfather worked for the AIADMK from 1972, serving as town secretary and chairman for 31 years. I entered party work at the age of 16, involved in activities such as drawing party symbols and pasting posters. I have served the party for 19 years as councillor and deputy chairman,” he said.
Rakesh said he was given the opportunity to contest by Edappadi K Palaniswami and went on to win the seat. However, he alleged that “members within the party stabbed me in the back”.
He further claimed that he was informed of his candidature only on the morning of the announcement, adding that several senior leaders had been reluctant to contest from the constituency.
Alleging interference during the campaign, Rakesh named Amma Peravai district secretary Gnanavel, stating that he created hurdles instead of extending support despite being designated as constituency in-charge.
He also alleged that Gnanavel was in contact with the rival candidate and his wife, a former MLA, and had shared election strategies with them, thereby working against his interests.
“I even told party administrators that they should not have given me the ticket,” he said, adding that dealing with internal party colleagues had been more difficult than facing opposition parties.
The MLA claimed that senior party administrators were aware of the issues he faced during the campaign and that he was instructed at times not to speak against the rival candidate.
Rakesh said the AIADMK should have won all four constituencies in Kallakurichi district, citing public dissatisfaction with the DMK government.
He reiterated that the alleged betrayal by the election in-charge had been unprecedented in the region. “The sin of destroying the political careers of several party functionaries will affect him,” he alleged.
He further claimed that several former MLAs had left the party due to Gnanavel’s conduct.
“The reason for the AIADMK candidate’s defeat in Kallakurichi constituency is him. His only aim is to make money. District secretary and former MLA R Kumaraguru is acting on his advice, which has led to his own downfall,” he alleged.
