The Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK), a splinter group of the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), is heading for a split with two senior leaders and 56 executive committee members deciding to function as an independent group.
The PDK was formed in 2001 by a group of dissenters, who wanted to keep away from the DK headed by K. Veeramani.
The PDK brought together various groups wedded to the ideology of Periyar.
Functioning effectively, the PDK published the works of Periyar and came to prominence when it came out with a compilation of ‘Kudiarasu,’ a Tamil journal run by Periyar, and ‘Revolt,’ an English periodical, due to the efforts of Kolathur T.S. Mani, president of the organisation.
However, following differences between a faction that include Mr. Mani and Viduthalai K. Rajendran, PDK general secretary, and another one led by Kovai Ramakrishnan, the former has decided that they can no longer function under one umbrella.
In a joint statement, Mr. Mani and Mr. Rajendran said though 56 out of 82 executive committee members supported their faction, they had decided not to use the title PDK and would function independently.
“We decided to part ways decently and we are not interested in mudslinging. But, a majority of the executive committee members have said that no one should be allowed to use the title PDK.”
Their group would meet at Erode on August 12 and chalk out the future course of action.
It would form a new organisation to carry forward the ideas of Periyar.
