Nanjil Sampath, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) propaganda secretary and once a staunch loyalist of the party’s leader Vaiko, joined the ruling AIADMK on Tuesday.
Mr. Sampath, a noted platform speaker who fell out with Mr. Vaiko in recent days, called on Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and joined the AIADMK as a primary member. He was immediately appointed the party’s deputy propaganda secretary. He is likely tour all the districts in Tamil Nadu and address public meetings.
“I was rejected by the MDMK and there was a rumour that I may go back to the DMK. But I decided to join the AIADMK, because Chief Minister Jayalalithaa openly adopted a resolution seeking to declare Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa a war criminal and is taking a lot of efforts in the interest of Tamil Nadu,” Mr Sampath told The Hindu.
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He said Ms. Jayalalithaa remained a role model for any Chief Minister and her opposition to the entry of Foreign Direct Investment in the multi-brand retail sector should be appreciated by everyone.
Asked whether he would now get the kind of freedom he used to enjoy in the DMK and later in the MDMK, Mr. Sampath said he had not joined the AIADMK with such an expectation.
“It is a ruling party representing crores of people. I have realised what my role will be in the party and will abide by the expectation of the AIADMK leadership,” he said. Mr. Sampath said it was he who had played “midwife” when the MDMK was born and toured the State more than its general secretary Mr. Vaiko to build the organisation.
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