Dual power centres in districts worry DMK

Trifurcation of Tiruchy DMK unit, which was said to have been done more to appoint Tiruverumur MLA Mahesh Poyyamozhi as district secretary than elevating KN Nehru to the office of principal headquarters secretary, is a case in point. DMK sources revealed that N Arun, son of KN Nehru has been making unusually frequent visits to Tiruchy district party headquarters Kalaignar Arivalayam after his father had reluctantly quit the district secretary post to take up a state-level assignment.

Grapevine has it that unrest among Nehru’s supporters has not died down despite the newly appointed district secretary Mahesh Poyyamozhi maintaining seemingly extraordinary bonhomie with his experienced predecessor. Arun Nehru has also been meeting party workers there frequently after his father was relieved of active party duty in the district.

Likewise, emergence of Senthil Balaji in Karur, who was appointed in-charge of the district months ago, has left many old timers owing allegiance to former district strongman Karur Chinnasamy dispirited. Allegations that Senthil Balaji had helped ally Congress snatch away the Lok Sabha seat originally ‘reserved’ for Chinnasamy only contributed to further strain in the relationship in Karur DMK.

Perturbed by the backing of DMK first family to Senthil Balaji, disgruntled Chinnasamy and his supporters, DMK sources said, have now started responding to the feelers from the AIADMK high command. It has been reliably learnt that the former minister and his supporters have been offered rehabilitation by the top brass of the ruling party, ostensibly, to scuttle the growth of their rebel Senthil Balaji and cement the party’s position in the Kongu region.

Similar friction between DMK youth wing deputy secretary A Durai and Tiruneveli (Central) district has affected peace in the southern district. A DMK insider with knowledge of the friction admitted that the dual power centre was a thorn in the flesh for the party with the revived youth wing seeking at least a fifth of the total representation in each district ahead of the proposed organisational polls, which, the district secretaries did not like.

“The energy exhibited by the youth wing is good for the party. But a balance should be struck. If the youth wing eats in the parent party’s performance ahead of an election year, it could spell trouble. The district secretaries and district coordinators of the youth wing should work in tandem. The high command should ensure the synchronisation,” the DMK senior reasoned on condition of anonymity.