The action of the deputy general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Amma) T.T. V. Dhinakaran appointing a large number of his supporters has evoked, expectedly, a cold reaction from two Ministers of the government headed by Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
Besides, three legislators, nominated by Mr. Dhinakaran to different positions in the party, have decided not to take up the new assignments. While P. Sathya (Panruti) and K. Palani (Sriperumpudur) expressed their unwillingness to take up the positions, A.K. Bose (Tiruparunkundram) said he was unable to take up the post citing health reasons.
Before leaving for New Delhi to attend a meeting of the GST Council, Finance Minister D. Jayakumar described the move by Mr. Dhinakaran as “questionable” when the appointment of V.K. Sasikala as the general secretary had been challenged before the Election Commission (EC) and the matter was still pending with the commission.
Challenging the manner in which the appointments were made, Revenue Minister and secretary of ‘Puratchi Thalaivi Peravai,’ a wing in the party, R.B. Udhayakumar said the move would create confusion among the party workers. It would neither strengthen nor motivate the workers. It had only become a “laughing stock,” he said.
In Chennai, P. Vetrivel, secretary of the North Chennai unit of the party and a known supporter of Mr Dhinakaran, claimed that the appointments were done after consulting other office-bearers. He contended that it was Mr. Dhinakaran who continued to receive communication from the Election Commission regarding the party. Mr. Vetrivel pointed out that affidavits filed by members and functionaries of the party with the EC had mentioned Mr. Dhinakaran as the deputy general secretary.
OPS camp meets
Meanwhile, the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) chief O. Panneerselvam chaired a meeting with other leaders at his residence to discuss the latest developments. K. P. Munusamy, former Minister, said the two-hour meeting deliberated the approach to be adopted by the party in the light of Mr. Dhinakaran’s appointments.
