Vacant posts filled in AIADMK; MLAs’ meet on February 5

According to a release signed by general secretary VK Sasikala, while sitting MLA KA Sengottayan, former minister Gokula Indira and former Chennai mayor Saidai S Duraisamy were made party organising secretaries, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar and former MLA KA Jayapal were nominated fisheries wing secretary and joint secretary respectively. 

Similarly, former Ministers Nainar Nagendran and Dr Vaigaiselvan were nominated deputy propaganda secretary and joint secretary, of the literary wing respectively.  Dr G Samarasam, party HQ speaker was nominated joint secretary of the literary wing and former MLA SK Selvam the joint secretary of the Puratchi Thalavi Peravai. 

The only two divestments are sitting MLA and Tiruvallur east district secretary V Alexander lost the additional charge of MGR youth wing secretary and MC Munusamy of Neelankarai who was demoted from the fisheries wing secretary to joint secretary, his erstwhile post going to fisheries Minister D Jayakumar. 

Party spokesman C Ponnaiyan said “there are only two divestments and that too it is only to relieve the incumbents of the additional posts they held. This is a routine exercise.” The filling up vacancies is also to make cadre understand that the general secretary is fully in control and uses her knowledge to ensure that the party becomes a force to reckon with, especially in the absence of a charismatic leader like Puratchi Thalaivi, said an insider who requested anonymity. 

“Loyalty issues are likely to be sidelined, especially due to the ongoing cold war between CM O Paneerselvam and Sasikala” he added. During the tenure of Jayalalithaa, complaints against party functionaries were handled by Sasikala which helped her get an idea of the nuances involved in handling intra party affairs. 

The posts were vacant from the middle of last year and were not filled due to Jayalalithaa’s illness and subsequently her death. Earlier in the day, AIADMK general secretary Sasikala, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and other senior members of the party paid their respects to late chief minister CN Annadurai at his memorial on the Marina beach on the occasion of his death anniversary.