It is unbecoming of district secretary to go public: senior leaders
Internal rivalry is not uncommon in the DMK, but nobody in the past has gone public with allegations against a senior colleague within the party as Union Minister of State for Finance S.S. Palanimanickam has done against former minister T.R. Baalu.
Mr. Palanimanickam’s diatribe against Mr. Baalu in Thanjavur on Saturday has shocked the DMK leadership, particularly party president M. Karunanidhi, party sources said on Sunday.
“This is unprecedented and it is unbecoming of a district secretary to vent his ire against a senior colleague of the party publicly. Of course, we have witnessed sharp differences between our party founder C.N. Annadurai and E.V.K. Sampath and later between Kalaignar and MGR. But such differences were confined to leadership issues and resulted in the birth of new parties. The second line of leaders generally abstained from washing dirty linen in public under the present leadership,” a former DMK Minister told The Hindu.
Many DMK leaders said there was a cold war between Mr. Palanimanickam and Mr. Baalu as the latter nurtured ideas of contesting from the Thanjavur Lok Sabha constituency. The manner in which he sought to make inroads into the constituency with railway schemes irritated Mr. Palanimanickam, who is also the party’s district secretary. Mr. Baalu is chairman of the Parliamentary standing committee on railways.
Mr. Palanimanickam’s question is why Mr Baalu is showing undue interest in another constituency instead of his own (Sriperumbudur). Mr. Baalu has already succeeded in getting the Mannargudi Assembly seat, a segment under Thanjavur Lok Sabha coinstituency, for his son T.R.B. Raaja.
“This does not warrant a public debate. Mr. Palanimanickam could have approached the party leadership to sort out the differences. But the leadership also should have intervened long before the issue assumed such proportions,” said another senior leader. Differences of opinion among the second-level leaders, especially in the districts, are very common in the DMK. In Tirunelveli, it is former Speaker R. Avudaiyappan vs Karuppasamy Pandian, who came to the party from the AIADMK. The tussle between former ministers E.V. Velu and K Pichandi in Tiruvannamalai district is no secret. In Ramanathapuram district, actor-turned-MP J.K. Ritheesh, is emerging as a challenge to district secretary Suba. Thangavelan and they hardly see eye to eye. Former Minister K.N. Nehru has many rivals in the party in Tiruchi district.
“But none of these leaders has gone to the media and levelled allegations against one another. In fact, DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin travelled across the State and brought together warring groups in many districts before the 2006 Assembly elections. But, now Mr. Palanimanickam has crossed the Lakshman rekha,” said a former Minister.
Meanwhile, Mr. Palanimanickam called on Mr. Karuananidhi at his CIT Colony residence and explained his position.
Keywords: DMK internal rivalry, Palanimanickam-Baalu spar, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, Thanjavur–Pattukottai rail link
Charges levelled against the MP T. R.Baalu is absolutely correct. I still recollect before the 2009 parliamentary elections, Mr.T.R.Baalu,
came to our constituency invited all the Resident association office bearers and honoured them with a shawl and he disclosed his plans in
regards to the infrastructre to be implemented in our areas and he further promised once after successful election within 15days Govt process in regards to the execution of the plan will be commenced.
It was almost 6 months there werent any trace of his promises coming
into action. When asked to the party member located in our area, he said that Mr.T.R.Baalu has the habit of talking big things and making promises but seldom will he execute unless and until it has a link to his family buisness interest. So this is just an example of the colour of DMK politicians and will not be surprised if this is existing in all other leading parties.
For years DMK leadership has been witness to, if not part of, the
smoldering rivalry between its top leaders Stalin and Alagiri Then, what
is new about the present issue between Palani manikkam and T.R. Baalu to
be shocked about! Is this also a privilege open only to the family
members of Karunanidhi!?
I always wondered who is the real Railway Minister for India? How could a parliamentary review committee chair/member be over and above the Railway Minister in making railway related statements in Tamilnadu and introducing non-budget trains like Mannai express? When I wrote about this to Railway Board Chairman, there was no response. Is this a 'banana' republic?
These 2 persons has killed trains for Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Trichy.
TRB cleverly taken away Trichy due Trichy-TPTY express and Thanjavur due chennai express as Mannargudi-Express.
because of the cold war between two, it looks Rockfort express also got affected. its a mystery why Rockfort was not even restored back to Trichy even now.
we have to pity M.K. at this age he has to face his sons prolems and between two central ministers too.let him take rest,.
'The second line of leaders generally abstained from washing dirty
linen in public under the present leadership,” a former DMK Minister
told The Hindu.'
So the cat is out of the bag! The DMK has a bag of dirty linen of it's
own to wash! For Mr.Karunanidhi, who is still groping in the dark and who should have been deeply
disturbed by Mr.Palanimanikkam's recent distribe against his trusted
lieutenant in New Delhi Mr.T.R.Baalu, the comments from a former DMK
Minister should be akin to rubbing salt on the wound!
Ego and self-aggrandizement are problems mutually shared.
The Effect of this Internal Party rivalry is affecting the COMMON PUBLIC. Good Newspapers like THE HINDU should highlight the plight of common man. For example:Chennai-Nagore Kamban Express is diverted via Tirvarur affecting the People of Kumbakonan and Thanajvur. These 2 stations are also in the Pooled Quota in the other available Overnight train (Viz Mannai Express to Mannargudi)from Chennai- which means handful of berths are only available for these stations.Cholan express has also not got the required Chair Car for the day travel which means a common man has to pay atleast Rs 70 Extra every trip, while Mannargudi-Tirupathy express has got the Chair car. While it is welcome that towns like Mannargudi gets new trains, it should NOT be at the Cost of towns like Thanjavur and Kumbakonam. Even the old Chennai-Thanjavur Overnight Fast Passenger is not restored post Broad Gauge.NOW WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIGHT BETWEEN THESE 2 IS THE MAIN REASON FOR NEGLECT OF THANJAVUR. GOD PLEASE SAVE US
Mr. T R instead of highlighting the woes of suburban travellers in standing long ques in all suburban ticket counters and taking up the matter with the Railway Ministry for the past one year he is concentrating on Railway development in around Thiruvarur Thanjavur with the twin object of pleasing his master and another to nurture his future constituency I ask him what action he had taken to post adequate staff at the Tambaram Car shed which according to trade union was having 800 men and now left with half of them. The result is frequent breakdownn of electric trains
Well done Mr. Palanimanickam!
Any corrupt politics must be exposed to the public, in the best interest of people.
Dynasty politics is dirty in India as the politicians loot India and make things worse for ordinary people.
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