Internal feud in Karur Congress out in open after functionary’s comment

State spokesperson for the party S Jothimani had urged the party cadre to serve as full time workers which will develop the party in the district, at the executive committee meeting of the Karur Town Congress Committee on June 25.

It is said, she targeted a few cadre including the district Secretary K Balachandar who had failed to participate actively in the party affairs and indirectly referred Balachandar as ‘part-time cadre’.

This created flutter among the faction of cadre led by Balachandar.

They demanded that she withdraw the comment. Since Jothimani was firm on her comment, the office bearers including Balachandar and others came to the procession on Thursday, carrying mattresses, pillows and dresses. They reached the district office at Vaiyyapuri Nagar in Coimbatore road. They raised slogans that they will reside permanently at the district office to prove that they are ‘full-time cadre’.

Thereafter, district president R Chinnasamy stopped them and an altercation erupted on the spot. Later, the protesters started to spread the mattresses and continued to raise slogans. The district president and other cadre held talks with them and later, they dispersed from the spot.

Though it created flutter among the public, Chinnasamy said, they were trying to malign the reputation of Jothimani. He said that the state leadership has been informed about the incident.