AIADMK (PTA) defers announcing office-bearers

Former minister and OPS supporter KP Munusamy told DT Next that the exercise was not undertaken on Saturday, though functionaries from various districts did visit OPS’s Greenways road residence. Meanwhile, former government pleader and north Chennai south district legal wing secretary ML Jagan accompanied by district deputy secretary R Nagarajan met OPS at his residence and expressed their support and solidarity to the faction.

When asked about Dinakaran’s act of nominating party cadre to various posts, Munusamy said there was no connection between Dinakaran and the AIADMK as he was expelled from the party by former chief minister and general secretary J Jayalalilthaa.

However, party sources said the move to choose new party functionaries was made due to the continued failure of both sides to merge. Though numerically inferior to their rivals, the group banks on its support from party cadre as witnessed by the rousing reception OPS received in the district meetings.

Meanwhile, DMK headquarters secretary Duraimurugan on Saturday ridiculed former chief minister O Panneerselvam for reportedly announcing a demonstration to draw the state government’s attention towards the prevailing drinking water crisis in the city. Criticising OPS and his group for claiming party and power, Duraimurugan wondered if the “small group” led by OPS had reckoned only now that “Chennai is a city.

People live there and it is the duty of the government to supply water to them.”