Notes of discord emerged in the AIADMK on Monday with former Minister K.P. Munusamy accusing party general secretary V.K. Sasikala’s brother V. Divakaran of attempting to usurp credit for the party’s successful legacy.
At a press conference in Kaveripattinam, Mr. Munusamy objected to Mr. Divakaran’s speech at a function in Thanjavur on Saturday wherein he had said that Ms. Sasikala’s husband Natarajan was instrumental in retrieving the party’s ‘Two Leaves’ symbol after it was frozen following the split in the party after MGR’s death. “We did not mushroom (in the AIADMK) in overnight rains. Natarajan and I played a role in building the party and elevating Jayalalithaa as Leader of the Opposition and later as Chief Minister,” Mr. Divakaran had said.
Strongly objecting to this, Mr. Munusamy declared, “The attempts by people who were once expelled from the party to gain control over the structure will not be tolerated by the cadre.”
Referring to the claim made by Mr. Divakaran that Mr. Natarajan played a key role in the merger of the party factions led by Janaki and Jayalalithaa in 1989, Mr. Munusamy, who served as Minister for three years in Jayalalithaa’s Cabinet (2011-16) and was three-time MLA and one-time MP, said that it was the late Janaki who ensured the merger of both the factions. It was the letter of Janaki to the EC which paved way for retaining the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol.
The present party headquarters is the personal property of Janaki, Mr. Munusamy said, and charged that Mr. Divakaran and his group were attempting to tarnish the image of MGR and Jayalalithaa.
“Mr. Divakaran is attempting to consolidate his position in the party and create a power centre around him. Ms. Sasikala should nip this in the bud itself,” he said.
