K Raju a member of ‘sleeper cell’: Ex-MLA

Markandayan, who hails from the same district as Kadambur Raju, said that the Minister will soon see his fate. “Kadambur Raju got his seat and Ministerial berth on the recommendations of Dhinakaran and VK Sasikala, then confidante of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. He is showing his loyalty by sending AIADMK cadre and functionaries to AMMK,” he alleged.

Dhinakaran had been claiming that he has many sleeper cells in the AIADMK and they will join him at the right time. The comments of Dhinakaran have come true on many occasions as few MLAs have switched sides in the recent past.

Under such circumstances, Vilathikulam constituency, in Thoothukudi district, is set to face a bypoll as its MLA, Uma Maheswari, who was elected under the banner of AIADMK had switched her loyalty to TTV Dhinakaran and was disqualified.

There is stiff competition within AIADMK to get the ticket for Vilathikulam. Supporters of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam are fighting it out hard for the seat.

Markandayan, a supporter of Panneerselvam, is the former MLA of Vilathikulam and he is said to be desperate to get the seat in the bypoll. However, Markandayan alleged that Kadambur Raju is favouring his own candidate for the bypoll and is taking all possible steps to tarnish his image in the party. “Party leaders know very well about Kadambur Raju and so they have kept him at a distance. He cannot make a person win even in the councillor election,” said Markandayan.