Don’t be like Senthil Balaji, EPS to new cadre

“As his political business failed in the AMMK he has now joined the rival DMK. The cadres who are joining AIADMK should not be like Balaji who does not have any policy or principles in public life,” he said at a function aimed to counter the DMK’s rally at Karur organised by Senthil Balaji. 

Welcoming cadres from other parties, who joined the AIADMK here at party headquarters, the Chief Minister said that the party men should always be faithful to the parties they are affiliated. “Even a chameleon will take time to change its colour. But Senthil Balaji is too fast. He joined the AIADMK for his political business and after making profits he went to AMMK. There he could not make much business, so he had moved back to the DMK. To dismantle the AIADMK, he had joined our rival. It was Amma who gave Senthil Balaji an identity in politics. 

He was given an MLA seat and then elevated as transport minister in the AIADMK regime. But now Senthil Balaji has joined the DMK to dismantle the AIADMK government and his loyalty stands exposed. This is the fifth time that Senthil Balaji has changed his party such people will face their fate due to ill intentions, he added.  “Amma protected this organisation like eyelid protecting the eyes, but today traitors are making all efforts to dislodge the AIADMK government. I have been in the party for 44 years following the principles of the AIADMK and this is the party which acknowledges hard work and loyalty,” Palaniswami said.

Though he took shots at the DMK, he was soft against rebel AMMK. Members of the AMMK are our siblings, they fought against our rivals to protect the parent AIADMK, but DMK is our arch rival. Cadres should stay alert and be united to teach the traitors a fitting lesson, the Chief Minister added.

Transport Minister MR Vijayabhaskar termed the exit of Senthil Balaji as good riddance and assured that Karur will continue to be a bastion for the AIADMK. Party convenor O Panneerselvam and senior AIADMK ministers addressed the party men gave a pep talk among the newcomers from Karur district.

Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s brother O Raja, who got elected in the election held last week, has assumed charge as Chairman of Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (Aavin) Madurai Zone on Thursday. 

The swearing in ceremony seemed to be a low-key affair as key politicians from the party avoided the function, sources said. Raja was expelled from the AIADMK on charges of anti-party activities on December 19. He was evicted from the party after having won the post of Chairman in the Madurai Zone of Aavin.

Raja was alleged to have taken tactical support from TTV Dhinakaran, deputy general secretary of AMMK, to win the zonal elections after sidelining Chellamuthu, a key loyalist of Panneerselvam.

Moreover, he was said to have prevented others from filing nominations to contest the post of Chairman, sources added. On learning this, the party high command issued a statement expelling Raja from the party.

But, just a few days later, his expulsion was revoked and Raja was asked to returns to the party on December 24.

It came as a big surprise to party functionaries as on what reason Raja was again brought back to the party. Earlier, Raja was chairman of Periyakulam Municipality and the party assigned him tasks to take care of the party in Periyakulam and Theni, sources said.