Seat row surfaces between MLAs, Ministers in AIADMK

“By next month while selecting the AIADMK MLA candidates list and the arrival of ousted AIADMK leader VK Sasikala, the fissure is all set to open wide,” an AIADMK senior told DT Next. Allocation of MLA seats for party men will be a tough task for AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami.

Then some strong Ministers will position their loyalists for the seats overlooking current AIADMK MLAs, the former legislator said.

According to informed sources at AIADMK headquarters already the fallouts between the MLAs and the Ministers has started cropping up in several districts like Virudhunagar, Chennai and Madurai. Further, a section of Dalit MLAs also feel that they are being sidelined by the influential MLAs in Kongu region.

Protesting against Minister Rajenthra Bhalaji, AIADMK MLA of Sattur MSR Rajavarman addressed the party workers stating that the Minister was trying to curb his control and is working tirelessly to prevent him from getting the MLA ticket for Assembly polls.

“But, I have decided to take on the Minister come what may,” Rajavarman told AIADMK workers during an internal election meeting. The MLA’s speech had gone viral among AIADMK workers in southern districts where the factions led by CM EPS and deputy CM OPS are trying to suppress the rise of their interparty rivals.

The controversial speech had reached the party high command and an inquiry is likely.

Similarly, friction is also widening between the factions of AIADMK strongman Rajan Chellappa, Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar and Cooperatives Minister Sellur K Raju, admitted AIADMK insiders.

Meanwhile, a section of AIADMK seniors in the north Tamil Nadu had also asked the party not to concede to the demands raised by PMK and DMDK seeking more seats as it would rob the seats of the sitting AIADMK MLAs and aspirants.

Law Minister CVe Shanmugham is keen that the districts like Villupuram, Kallakurichi and Cuddalore failed to perform better during the previous Lok Sabha alliance despite the AIADMK-PMK alliance. The Minister has openly briefed the party to rely on the party workers and aspiring MLAs rather than conceding seats to allies.

When contacted, an AIADMK spokesperson wishing not to be quoted said that these were minor issues that crop up during polls. There are so many aspirants seeking MLA tickets, any political party will have in house rivalries, these should not be exaggerated.