Not in any group: Ex-Mayor

The posting of VK Sasikala as interim general secretary is against AIADMK’s party rules and hence the post she holds is not valid and is illegal, the former Chennai mayor declared on Tuesday. 

Stating that there was no room in the party for interim or nominated general secretary, he said in the absence of the general secretary, AIADMK rules stipulated that party work could be carried out by headquarters functionaries. 

This was specially mentioned by MGR to prevent short-cut takeover of positions in the party, Duraisamy added. 

Speaking out after being ousted by Dinakaran from the organising secretary post, he said, when Sasikala’s post itself was invalid, how can Dinakaran be named deputy general secretary. Making it clear that he belonged to the unified AIADMK and not to any faction, Duraisamy said, he had kept himself away from the party after December 15 when his appeal to elect Sasikala as general secretary through the general council was not heeded. 

Recalling his association with the AIADMK right from 1972 when he was an ardent MGR fan, he read out Sasikala’s apology letter, which she had given to rejoin the party in 2012, to Jayalalithaa. “A woman who said she aspired to no post either in the government or party is now trying to take over the party through short-cut. “So who is the betrayer?” he asked.

Referring to Dinakaran, he said, “Who is he? Where was he in the 10 years after he was ousted by Jayalalithaa?” Does he know who Saidai Duraisamy is?”