The crisis for MDMK general secretary Vaiko deepened with the exit of the party treasurer Masilamani, close on the heels of the departure of Salem district secretary K.C.V. Tamaraikannan, women’s wing secretary Kumari Vijayakumari and a few others.
Mr. Masilamani said Mr. Vaiko’s announcement on electoral alliances — of keeping a distance from both the AIADMK and the DMK— would only help the enemies of the Dravidian movement.
Mr. Vaiko, who has seen the exit of more powerful leaders such as L. Ganesan, Gingee Ramachandran, Pon. Muthuramalingam and M. Kannappan, after they threw their weight behind him after his removal from the DMK, however, refused to attach any importance to these developments.
“Those who have enjoyed power have left the MDMK in search of MLA and MP posts. The MDMK’s strength is its cadres and it does not depend on leaders,” said Mr. Vaiko.
But Gandhia Makkal Iyakkam founder Tamilaruvimanian and K. Thirunavukkarasu, former editor of MDMK organ Sangoli said inconsistency and lack of planning prevented Mr. Vaiko from achieving what he had aspired to in Tamil Nadu politics.
“It seems he attaches more importance to the Lok Sabha polls and creates confusion when it comes to the Assembly polls. He played his cards well since 1998 Lok Sabha polls and always found some excuse to break alliances for Assembly polls at the last minute,” said Mr. Thirunavukkarasu, who left the party over a difference of opinion during the 2006 Assembly polls.
In 2001, Mr. Vaiko >left the DMK front on the ground that Sankarankoil constituency was not allotted to his party. He took everyone by surprise by >joining the AIADMK front in 2006 Assembly elections after working closely with the DMK.
In 2011, a difference of opinion over seat-sharing led to the >MDMK staying away from polls .
“He always imposed his decisions on the party, instead of eliciting opinion from various committees of the party before arriving at a conclusion. All his efforts and hard work are thus wasted,” said Mr. Thirunavukkarasu.
Though he agreed that Mr. Vaiko’s strength was committed party cadres and leaders, Mr. Tamilaruvimanian said the MDMK leader lacked consistency, an essential element to succeed in politics.
“Mr. Vaiko’s position was no different from that of late Chief Minister MGR. But MGR never made any compromise with the DMK after his removal. On the other hand Vaiko joined hands with the DMK. After embarking on a padayatra against Ms Jayalalithaa, he chose to be part of the AIADMK alliance. He moved closely with DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin, who he once said the DMK leadership was promoting,” said Mr. Tamilaruvimanian, who once declared that it was his duty to make Mr. Vaiko the Chief Minister.
Mr. Tamilaruvimanian said in Tamil Nadu politics a front alternative to both the DMK and the AIADMK could be formed only after bringing together political parties whose vote share came close to the two Dravidian parties.
Meanwhile, the high-level committee meeting of the party will meet on Saturday to take stock of the developments.
