Duraimurugan to stay DMK treasurer

Chennai

Duraimurugan had quit the treasurer post ahead of the March 29 general council meet convened to elect the party general secretary and treasurer. However, the general council meeting was deferred owing to coronavirus outbreak, therefore leaving the post of general secretary vacant in the party since the demise of K Anbazhagan in the first week of March.

Announcing the decision to reinstate Duraimurugan, Stalin, in a statement released on Wednesday, said that an extraordinary situation prevails where it was not possible to convene the party general council under section 17 of the party by law to elect the general secretary and treasurer. “Therefore, as per the powers vested on me under section 18 of the party by law, I suspend the decision taken on the resignation tendered by Duraimurugan and announce that he will continue as treasurer till such time the general council is convened,” Stalin announced.

The announcement comes in the backdrop of rumours about the octogenarian expressing his anguish to his confidants over the party high command delaying his elevation to the office of general secretary. Also, rumours abound in the party circles about the high command being advised by a few to defer the election of general secretary till the next Assembly elections due in 2021. Party sources privy to the development attributed the ‘reinstatement’ to delay in utilising the party funds and said, “Government is not allowing a meeting of a two dozen opposition party leaders. Uncertainty continues over lifting the lockdown. Even if the lockdown is eased, we do not know when the situation would normalise so that we could organise a general council meet like large gathering, like in the past.”

“We cannot afford to keep the treasurer post vacant. We ought to access the party funds for regular activities and prepare for next year’s Assembly elections. Hence, the announcement,” a highly placed source added, calling the arrangement a stop gap one till Duraimurugan’s elevation.