On the birthday of former Union Minister M.K. Alagiri, the DMK released a new list of office-bearers, rehabilitating most senior leaders said to be unhappy with the party leadership in recent times.
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The list, published in the party organ Murasoli , has come out at a time when there is speculation that some of these disgruntled leaders could switch their loyalty.
Former Union Minister S.S. Palanimanickam, who could not get a ticket in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, has been made a member of the high-level action committee of the party along with V. Karuppasamy Pandian, who lost his hold as the Tirunelveli district secretary after it was divided to create four districts. Earlier, late A.L. Subramaniam from the district was the member of the committee.
Similarly former minister Pongalur Palanisamy, a powerful DMK face in the Kongu belt, who could not contest in the district secretary elections due to changed circumstances, has been appointed deputy chairman of the party’s property protection committee. Even though he secured a ticket for his son Paintamil Pari, he was not allowed to contest as his name was not in the party’s list of voters. Now he has been given the post of deputy secretary of the youth wing.
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A former Minister who has gained a good position is M.P. Saminathan. He lost the election to the post of the secretary for the Tirupur (South). He is now joint-secretary of the youth wing, a position next only to the wing’s secretary Mr M.K. Stalin.
Former North Chennai district secretary (in-charge) R.D. Sekar also secured a place in the youth wing as deputy secretary. Mr Sekar could not retain his position as district secretary after the Chennai district was divided.
Even K.P. Ramalingam, who faced disciplinary action for meeting M.K. Alagiri, has made a comeback as one of the secretaries of the farmers’ wing.
Former Union Ministers T.R. Baalu, A. Raja, Dayanidhi Maran, party MP Kanimozhi, former Minister Arcot N. Veerasami, K. Ponmudi, K.N. Nehru, and M.R.K. Panneerselvam are also included as members of the high-level committee.
Another former Minister K.P.P. Samy, who fell from the favour of the party leadership, has been rehabilitated as one of the secretaries of the party’s fishermen wing. All senior leaders including Mr Palanimanickam and K.P.P. Samy met party treasurer M.K. Stalin and expressed their happiness.
The designation of organisation secretary T.K.S. Elangovan has been changed as spokesperson of the party headquarters.
Advocates K.S. Radhakrishnan and Tamilan Prasanna will assist him.
The list has come out when there is speculation that some of the disgruntled leaders could switch loyalty