Sidelined AIADMK deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran on August 26, 2017 removed chief government whip S. Rajendran from a key party post, two days after the latter sought disqualification of 19 MLAs owing allegiance to the former.
Mr. Rajendran was being “relieved” as the district secretary of Ariyalur, Mr. Dhinakaran said in a statement, while continuing to effect changes in the party ranks. He appointed P. Muthiayan in Mr. Rajendran’s place.
On August 24, 2017, Mr. Rajendran petitioned Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal for the disqualification of the 19 pro-Dhinakaran MLAs who had revolted against Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami. The Dhinakaran loyalists had met Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao seeking removal of Mr. Palaniswami as CM.
Following Mr. Rajendran’s plea, the Speaker had issued notices to all the 19 MLAs, seeking their response on the matter. Citing reports, Mr. Rajendran had said the MLAs told Mr. Rao they were “withdrawing” support to Mr. Palaniswami even as there was no change in the party’s February 14, 2017 unanimous decision to elect him as AIADMK Legislature Party Leader. The legislators had also addressed the media, which was an “anti-party activity” and the act implied “voluntary relinquishing of membership,” Mr. Rajendran had said. They were therefore liable to be disqualified under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, he had said in his petition to the Speaker, besides quoting from a Tamil Nadu anti-defection law.
AIADMK’s district secretaries of Villupuram (South) and Sivaganga have also been replaced. Villupuram (South) functionary and MLA R. Kumaraguru has been replaced by K.G.P. Gnanamoorthy. Mr. Dhinakaran also removed Lok Sabha MP P.R. Senthilnathan as the party’s Sivaganga district secretary. K.K. Umadevan has been appointed in his place. All the changes were being made with the “approval” of party general secretary V.K. Sasikala, Mr. Dhinakaran said.
Mr. Dhinakaran, who is involved in a tussle for power with Mr. Palaniswami, has been reshuffling the party ranks in the past few days. He has removed, among others, five Ministers, from party posts and replaced them with his supporters.