Tough for Dhinakaran to keep flock together

Dhivakaran reverently called as ‘boss’ by the AIADMK leaders had run the party affairs for a long time from behind the scenes from Mannargudi and knows the party functionaries throughout the state. The crucial advantage he has at the moment is that he was the advisor to his sister VK Sasikala in distribution of party tickets during the 2016 Assembly elections. Already, there are charges against Dhivakaran that he is trying to poach the MLAs with Dhinakaran. “Dhivakaran has met some of the disqualified MLAs and advised them to accept the leadership of Palaniswami. He had also promised that they will regain their posts if they returned to the ruling party. He had also misused the BJP’s name for his negotiations,” AMMK whip P Vetrivel said. However, he affirmed that all the 21 MLAs are staunchly backing his leader.

The AMMK functionaries also pointed out that when the AIADMK Ministers revolted against the family and brought down the banners of Sasikala at the party headquarters, Dhivakaran himself claimed that he had the support of at least 40 legislators. However, it was baffling how none of them came against Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, especially when Dhinakaran who had lesser hold on the MLAs was able to bring out 18 MLAs out of the party.

The AIADMK had won 25 MLAs in the delta districts considered as the family’s stronghold, but only two of them came out against EPS, whose name was recommended by Dhivakaran for CM post at Koovathur. 

At the moment, two MLAs V Senthil Balaji and P Vetrivel are vocal while others including key leader Thangathamizhselvan had fallen silent. Speaking at Namakkal recently, senior Minister P Thangamani, who is close to EPS, pointed out that Thangathamizhselvan is not active now since he had been sidelined by Dhinakaran. Earlier, another senior minister SP Velumani had openly offered a ministerial berth to Thangathamizhselvan if he rejoined the AIADMK. 

The AMMK which is facing attacks from both the ruling party and Dhivakaran’s group is banking on sidelined AIADMK leader Sasikala, who has not met her younger brother in prison for a long time. Besides, ‘Namadhu MGR’ and television channel ‘Jaya TV’ is backing Dhinakaran blacking out the family feud.