Will DMK pit Selvaganapathy against EPS in Salem in 2021?

MK Stalin, party sources revealed, had picked former minister TM Selvaganapathy to regain the lost foothold among the majority Vanniyar community in Salem region. That the replacement of Veerapandi A Raja with Selvaganapathy, both Vanniyars, has irked the opposition was evident from the PMK rushing to the defense of reprimanded Raja. Even on Tuesday, PMK youth wing had accused Stalin of insulting Vanniyar icon Veerapandi S Arumugam by axing his son Raja. Literally attempting to pit the DMK against the community, PMK said that brother Raja was sacked mainly due to Stalin’s hatred against Arumugam.

However, the criticism did not even tickle the local DMK strongmen who opined under condition of anonymity that a strong and seasoned leader like Selvaganapathy was necessary to withstand the onslaught of the AIADMK led by its Chief Minister in Salem.

They quickly added that caste factor of Veerapandi Arumugam’s son did not help the party in any way. “PMK is trying to fish in troubled waters as usual. Did they not know during Arumugam’s time that he was a Vanniyar icon? They have laid the bait for Raja. It is up to him. If Veerapandi Raja had such an influence among the community, why did we do badly in Edappadi constituency in 2016?” argued a DMK senior requesting anonymity.

The DMK had finished a distant third, behind PMK which secured over 50,000 votes in Edappadi constituency held now by the CM. “Veerapandi Arumugam’s legacy is a myth. Leadership has realised it. Also, the outcome of rural local body elections in Salem, mainly Yercaud union had convinced the high command. Hence, Raja was given the sack and TMS appointed,” the leader reasoned.

If sources in the party were to be believed, Selvaganapathy aka TMS could be Stalin’s trump card to do a Bargur in 2021 (Former CM Jayalalithaa had bit dust against inexperienced Sugavanam in Bargur constituency in 1996). Apart from winning back the loyalty of the majority community there, Stalin seems to be planning to pit TMS against EPS next year. TMS could be the strong Vanniyar candidate Stalin appears to be grooming for the crucial Assembly polls.

Now 4 units in Coimbatore

Meanwhile, the DMK has bifurcated the city unit of DMK in Coimbatore and appointed new secretaries. Coimbatore city has been split into Coimbatore (city) East and West party districts. Incumbent Coimbatore city secretary and Singanallur MLA N Karthik would continue as secretary of newly created Coimbatore city East district comprising 71 wards, while M Muthusamy has been appointed secretary of Coimbatore city West district consisting of 29 wards. C Ramachandran and Thendral Selvaraj would continue as secretaries of existing Coimbatore north and south districts, an announcement made by party general secretary K Anbazhagan on Tuesday said. Coimbatore is the third district in western region to undergo rejig since the recently concluded urgent state executive committee meeting held here last month.

Stalin had already appointed new secretaries to Salem and Namakkal party units, where old horses who pulled down the party over the last decade have been shownthe doors.