Within days of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (AIADMK) two factions — Amma and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma — holding a meeting of the general council jointly, differences have cropped up between the two. A section of the AIADMK (PTA) is peeved that the faction’s leaders have been “sidelined” in tomorrow’s state-wide events of the unified party marking the 108th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai.
A leader of the dissatisfied section says that in the communication sent from the party headquarters a few days ago, protocol has not been followed. P.H. Pandian, former Assembly Speaker and among the first to revolt against deposed interim general secretary of the AIADMK (Amma) V.K. Sasikala, has come next to Sudha K. Paramasivan, organising secretary, for an event to be conducted in Tenkasi.
Likewise, Minister for Tamil Official Language and Avadi Member of Legislative Assembly K. Pandiarajan’s name follows V. Alexander, district secretary of the Tiruvallur (East) unit, for an event to be held in his constituency.
With regard to the Kancheepuram (Central) district unit, similar treatment has been given to V. Maitreyan, who moved the Election Commission in February to challenge Sasikala’s appointment as interim general secretary.
In Dindigul district, former Electricity Minister Natham R. Viswanathan is relegated behind Forest Minister Dindigul C. Sreenivasan.
The disgruntled leader says the campaign against Sasikala had largely been taken up only by the AIADMK (Amma). He adds there can be “meaningful cooperation” only if all those who intensely took part in the campaign are “recognised adequately” in the new scheme of things.
An AIADMK (Amma) leader, however, disputes these perceptions. He says apart from Mr. Panneerselvam, who will be the chief guest of a Kancheepuram event, E. Madhusudananan will preside over an event in Villivakkam and C. Ponnaiyan in T. Nagar. K. P. Munusamy, Deputy Coordinator and who was part of the Panneerselvam camp, admits that “there may have been some slip-ups.” Though his name appears next to Youth Affairs Minister P. Balakrishna Reddy for an event in Krishnagiri, Mr. Munusamy says, “I will definitely attend the function.”