A group of dissenting AIADMK cadre launched a forum in support of Deepa Jayakumar, niece of Jayalalithaa, in Srirangam on Saturday, the same day when V.K.Sasikala took over as general secretary of the party.
Naming the forum Puratchi Malar J. Deepa Peravai , they also unveiled rettai roja (double rose) denoting the symbol of the forum.
The cadre, including women, who came from Tiruchi and its neighbouring districts including Nagapattinam and Thanjavur at short notice, gave a big round of applause when the decision was announced at the meeting.
Incidentally, the AIADMK men, who claimed they felt offended by the appointment of Ms. Sasikala as general secretary, chose to launch the forum at a marriage hall on South Chithirai Street in Srirangam where Jayalalithaa had said in an election rally in 2011 that her ancestors lived in the temple town.
“This is the beginning of a big movement. We get unbelievable response across the State. The forum will soon have its roots in all parts of the State,” said “MGR” Vallarasu, one of the coordinators . “We are not surprised by those rallying behind Sasikala. But, real cadre of the AIADMK will not accept her as the general secretary. She has been appointed in the general council, where not many were allowed to raise their voice. Her appointment is illegal,” claimed another coordinator M. Rengaraj (37) from Srirangam.
He said more than 1,000 members had enrolled in the forum on Saturday alone. More than 200 forms had been distributed to the spontaneous groups and to those who wanted to enrol members from different parts of Tiruchi district.
Several cadre who spoke at the meeting registered their dissent over not releasing details of treatment given to Jayalalithaa despite the Madras High Court raising questions on her death.
“Despite the hue and cry over the circumstances that led to the death of our beloved leader, the State government has not released the details yet. It is unfortunate,” said B. Chidambaram alias Vinoth (30) of Samayapuram.
Maintaining that they were still members of AIADMK, Puppy Chandrasekaran of Mannachanallur said members of the Deepa forum would soon take out rallies in all districts to muster support to unseat “those occupying” the party.
