Maitreyan rekindles duel leadership debate

After paying tributes to the late AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa at her memorial, 63-year-old Maitreyan told reporters that he was let down by the AIADMK leaders. “Amma (J Jayalalithaa) nominated me to the upper house for three consecutive terms. I am upset as my wish to contest in the south Chennai Lok Sabha seat was turned down by the current leaders,” he said noting that he was hoping for another term in the Rajya Sabha as the ruling party had three seats for nominations.

When asked about his opinion on the current AIADMK government, Maitreyan said, “this government was formed only because of Amma. All the MLAs in the AIADMK won because of the charismatic campaign by of our late leader, however the performance of the AIADMK government will be answered by the public during the next Assembly elections,” Maitreyan noted.

Though Maitreyan did not elaborate on the dual leadership issue haunting the AIADMK, he chose not to attack the AIADMK leaders EPS and OPS. “If the government and the party work together, then the chances of dual leadership succeeding could be more,” he said.

On DMK president MK Stalin inviting all MGR and Jayalalithaa followers to join the DMK, Maitreyan said, only the AIADMK party leadership should answer this question.

“Both OPS and EPS know very well that Maitreyan will be upset for not getting nominated again. But the party must give chances for fresh and new faces. Further Maitreyan has enjoyed three terms as RS member and that’s the reason he was not given the MP seat again,” said an AIADMK senior, who was part of selection panel.