Rajini factor to impact AMMK too

Supporters of deceased AMMK strongman P Vettrivel, are upset with the party’s functioning style and are now holding talks with other party leaders searching for political openings, insiders confirmed.

Political heavyweights like former mayor Saidai Duraisamy and former deputy mayor Karate R Thiagarajan are now being approached by sulking AMMK functionaries looking for an olive branch in the new party to be floated by the actor.

“All is not well with the AMMK which recorded a stunning performance in RK Nagar bypoll electing TTV Dhinakaran as an independent MLA. Every other day the party is losing functionaries and office-bearers to AIADMK and DMK. And now with the party planning to bifurcate more districts reducing the jurisdiction of district secretaries, dissent party workers are preparing for migration. District secretaries are also upset, and a few are waiting for Rajini to launch party and few are planning to return to parent AIADMK, another confidential source in AMMK said.

“The ruling AIADMK is also working hard to poach the dissent district secretaries. Further, the party has started appointing new functionaries and office-bearers and this had also not gone well in Erode, Tiruvallur, north Chennai and Chengalpattu party units,” rued an AMMK leader.

“I have spent my hard-earned money for the party in the past four years, but there is no access to the party general secretary Dhinakaran. Those close to the party leaders are not briefing the high command about the ground reality. I will wait till the release of Chinnamma (Sasikala) and if things don’t improve will leave the party,” said a former corporation councillor.

However, Dhinakaran has started pacifying the sulking functionaries. He recently visited the residence of late strongman Vettrivel who died due to COVID and also interacted with the sulking AMMK functionaries in Chennai.

“Actor Rajini will certainly attract workers from other parties and for dissents, a new opportunity will arise once he floats the party,” said political commentator R Mani.

AMMK party spokespersons were not willing to speak. Efforts to reach Dhinakaran proved futile.