AIADMK workers exchanged fisticuffs, uttered unparliamentary words and threw chairs during a meeting held in the presence of Forest Minister Dindigul Srinivasan and former minister Natham R. Viswanathan here on Tuesday. The meeting took place at a private hall on Dindigul-Natham Road here to discuss the strategy for the ensuing byelections and general elections.
Even as the meeting was about to start with an address from the district secretary Marudhuraj, a group of cadre from Thoppampatti Union rushed to the dais and started raising slogans against the leaders.
Upset over the development, leaders on the stage attempted to pacify them. The cadre alleged that they were neglected whenever they approached leaders for any obligation. As some leaders were dancing to the tunes of the DMK, the AIADMK had almost lost its reputation in Batlagundu and Vedasandur. They explained how they were ignored in the appointment of anganwadi workers. The Collector did not attach importance to any recommendation and posts were filled based on merit.
When the cadre went on to list a few other issues without naming Mr. Srinivasan, his supporters attempted to restore peace by asking the agitators to sit. Nobody listened to them. A ‘free-for-all’ situation broke out. The cadre hurled chairs and abused one another. Some of them tried to evict agitators but in vain. Senior leaders intervened and ensured that peace prevailed.
Peace prevailed when former minister Mr. Viswanathan declared that their grievances would be redressed.
Expressing concern over the unsavoury developments, a senior party functionary, who has been neutral, said that many power centres had come up after the demise of our leader (Jayalalithaa). The high command must handle the situation with an iron hand, he said.
