Rift may take a toll on bypoll

Panneerselvam’s supporters accused the Chief Minister’s group of not inviting the Deputy Chief Minister to the party’s first official celebrations for retrieving ‘Two Leaves’ symbol that too in Madurai, the neighbourhood of Panneerselvam’s native Theni district. AIADMK MP V Maitreyan too raised the issue, while Panneerselvam skipped the meeting altogether even while speaking at the MGR centenary celebrations in Ramanathapuram.

The Deputy Chief Minister’s supporters reminded that Panneerselvam was the party’s co-ordinator and ruled out bringing back the general secretary’s post in the party.

They also stressed that the team comprising Panneerselvam, presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan and former minister S Semmalai had been allocated the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol. The assertions and accusations are seen as efforts to gain key posts and get a hold over the party and administration. 

Meanwhile, AIADMK MP Rajya Sabha MP V Maitreyan speaking to reporters in Chennai, recalled the efforts of Panneerselvam’s supporters in retrieving the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol. He said he had gone to Delhi almost every week for nearly six months to fight the symbol case. Besides himself, former minister KP Munusamy, Manoj Pandian and Karur Palaniswami (who are loyalists of Panneerselvam) worked hard to retrieve ‘Two Leaves”. “Our efforts should have been recognised by inviting us to the function. None of us were invited to the event.” 

He cited the party resolution passed in the general council meeting after merger and stressed “Panneerselvam is the AIADMK co-ordinator and Palaniswami is the joint co-ordinator”, adding it had been decided that there would not be any general secretary for the party. 

Answering a query on the claim of sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran for the symbol, he subtly reminded that ‘Two Leaves’ symbol had been given to the party comprising E Madhusudhanan, Panneerselvam, S Semmalai and Palaniswami. He wanted the Chief Minister to sort out the issues with the party co-ordinator to bring unity to the party.