Koovathur talks of Balaji irk AIADMK

In the wake of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami terming Senthil Balaji, as a political trader with the traits of a chameleon.

The Karur strong man is paying back using the same coin and is now talking about the Koovathur days. “Sitting MLA Karunas spoke about Koovathur days. He was jailed for the provocative speech but Senthil Balaji cannot be taken for granted. He knows the political secrets of both the AIADMK and AMMK and this is a headache for us,” a sitting AIADMK MLA said admitting that the recent speech by Senthil Balaji provoking EPS and his Kongu based ministers to gear up for a jail term had upset many in the party.

“Look who is talking about loyalty and betrayal. Fearing court cases and jail term you antagonised fellow party men and are  in service towards the  Centre,” retaliated Balaji in public campaigns organised by the DMK. Party insiders are also worried that the former transport minister may poach party functionaries from the AIADMK.

“All is not well with the AIADMK leadership. For speaking against the BJP during Cauvery protests I was ousted from the party,” recalls former AIADMK MP KC Palaniswami. But two days ago, AIADMK MP Anwar Raja tore into the BJP on triple talaq. Now the party had asked another MP Venugopal to clarify that it is Anwar Raja’s personal comment and not the party’s stand. Then why the AIADMK staged a walkout from the Parliament when the bill was passed, asked Palaniswami.

Senthil Balaji’s decision of not returning to the ruling AIADMK preferring the opposition the DMK exposes the party leadership, he alleged. On the day of joining DMK, Senthil Balaji took 30,000 cadre along with him and there was a gala display of strength. Both EPS and O Panneerselvam should at least now make up their mind and attend to the growing dissent in the party, Palaniswami added.

“Our party leaders EPS and Jayakumar has been exposing the DMK day in and day out. Further talking about Senthil Balaji will only give him unnecessary publicity which he does not deserve,” quipped an AIADMK spokesperson. As far as Karur and Kongu regions are concerned, the party is intact, and a lot of developmental projects have come up in the past two years. People will vote for the AIADMK and those who left the AIADMK will soon realise their mistake, he added.