MLAs, Ministers blamed for AIADMK poll rout

According to AIADMK sources Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar had also complained about the poor performance of AIADMK MLAs in Chennai. “I am upset after my son D Jayavardhan lost the sitting seat of South Chennai and is awaiting action against a few district secretaries,” he said. Unlike late AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa, both Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his Deputy O Panneerselvam are yet to react on the poll debacle.

Perundurai MLA and former minister Thoppu Venkatachalam have attributed the failure due to non-performing AIADMK ministers in the western region. Venkatachalam who is sulking for some time with the party leaders and also skipped the recent MLAs meeting held by AIADMK leaders Palaniswami and Panneerselvam.

When contacted, Venkatachalam said he was not keen on attending the meetings. “I have requested Chief Minister Palaniswami to call for party workers meeting where cadres should be heard. The entire Erode district used to be an AIADMK fort during the days of AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa, but today the party has faced drubbing,” Thoppu Venkatachalam told DT Next. When asked why he is not attending the confidential party meetings, the MLA said he is waiting for the AIADMK leaders to act against those who were responsible for the poor performance of the party. I have given proof on poor election work taken up by the AIADMK satraps in western TN and the current leaders should follow the footsteps of Amma so that the AIADMK as a political party will continue to thrive and last long, the MLA said.

However, Minister for Khadi Board G Baskaran who is reviewing the poll debacle in Sivaganga district had told party functionaries that the anti-Modi wave has affected the prospects of AIADMK Lok Sabha candidates. The Minister during a recent party worker meet admitted that the public elected the AIADMK MLA S Nagarajan in Manamadurai Assembly constituency but in the same seat, BJP Lok Sabha candidate H Raja polled 20,000 fewer votes, the Minister said hinting that the alliance with BJP has affected the prospects of AIADMK.