DMK trying to ‘poach’ from TTV camp

Just when estranged AMMK leader Thanga Tamilselvan denied reports of him ‘defecting’ to AIADMK or DMK camp, rumours have emanated about the principal opposition party attempting to hook another big fish from TTV Dhinakaran’s camp. The coterie around DMK president MK Stalin was understood to have established contact with former minister Palaniappan of AMMK, and that too amid rumours that he was being approached also by a minister close to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami from the western region.

Unsurprisingly, Aravakurichi MLA Senthil Balaji, who was instrumental in bringing former Chennai south AIADMK district secretary VP Kalairajan to DMK and an influential member of Stalin’s family have opened channels with Palaniappan. If sources in the party are to be believed, Palaniappan may have been offered district secretary post plus the liberty to pick MLA candidates of his choice in the district if he joins the DMK.

Curiously, similar offer was learnt to have been made to Thanga Tamilselvan, who may not have engaged the two DMK negotiators who met him during the recent week.

While the family member and Senthil Balaji did most of the negotiation, a third negotiator, a young MLA close to Stalin’s family has also got into the business of wooing rebels from the rival camp, especially Thanga Tamilselvan.

Meanwhile, the conversation between the influential member of DMK first family and Palaniappan has made waves in AMMK circle. The buzz in the AIADMK breakaway faction was that Palaniappan has recorded the conversation with the DMK bigwig.

Significantly, the DMK had only recently poached a district president of Rajini Makkal Manram in Krishnagiri with a promise of giving him a lucrative district level post, again at the behest of the party top brass. The new entrant from Rajini Makkal Manram has disturbed peace in Krishnagiri party unit which fears the resourceful former Rajini loyalist could be groomed by the in house think tank and given powers to even propose candidates during elections in future.